– I come here twice a month and pick up food. I have done that for several years. But it is not enough for the children and me. “Wipa” is a single mother. Two teenage children. She is one of 140 people who stand in the food queue at the Salvation Army in Drammen on Wednesday morning. Since March, she has worked 100 percent as a cleaner. Still, the money is not enough. – Rent, electricity, food prices, everything has become more expensive. It’s up, up, up every day. We have to think and plan. Save. It is very heavy, how are we going to live? she asks rhetorically. What should be done to cut food queues? Have your say at the bottom of the matter. Ashamed to collect food The need for food assistance is greater than ever. So far this year, the food centers in the country have distributed over 1,000 tonnes of food. The queue of those in need has only increased. Every other Wednesday there is a food distribution at the Salvation Army in Drammen. At the previous distribution, 190 people came. – People are waiting to get in, long, long before we open, says parish leader Siv Joensen. Siv Joensen at the Salvation Army. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news They come and pick up carrier bags with, among other things, bread, eggs, fruit and a soup bag. Some are on a first-name basis with the many volunteers. Others look down or shyly turn away. At the Salvation Army in Drammen, food is delivered every two weeks. There are hectic days with packing bags in advance. Photo: Tordis Gauteplass / news – It is certainly embarrassing for several. You have all those people who up until now have barely managed, but can’t do it anymore. And then there are all the new ones, says Joensen. Food and powerlessness At the Salvation Army in Drammen, the food queue has become fuller in the past year. In addition to the “familiar faces”, there is now an influx of people who are in full-time employment. Delivery of food at the Salvation Army in Drammen. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Arnstein Sundbø has worked for 16 years as a volunteer with the Salvation Army. When he started, they distributed food to 30, 40 people every week. – It is a sad development, he states. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news In the course of two hours, 140 people have stopped by to pick up bags of food. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – Yes, this is where I shop for food, jokes Tom. He says that he has used the Salvation Army’s offer for several years, and says he is very grateful for the work they do. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Over 1,000 tonnes of food have been delivered by food centers in Norway so far this year. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news – On Monday we distributed food to 400 families. A record for us and an increase of 25 per cent from last year, says Gunhilde Brun-Pedersen, managing director at Filadelfia Church in Drammen, who is responsible for Eva’s food box. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Many people use their lunch break to pick up a food bag from the Salvation Army. – Yes, that is what we are seeing now, confirms Joensen and adds: – We also have the elderly, those with the least social security, who have been able to fend for themselves up until now, but who have started to come here. Grandparents wonder what to do with regards to Christmas presents for their grandchildren. They are ashamed, they are terrified. The largest group standing in the country’s food queues receives public support, social benefits or social security. What should Welfare Norway do? – The rates have increased. But when they don’t increase as much as the prices… no, that’s not enough. People come here and cry. It just gets more expensive. – What can be done? – Yes, what can be done? We can do nothing but offer guidance and food bags. We are powerless in all these human encounters, because that is what it is. These are people, says Joensen. From and including 1 July 2023, the rates for financial benefit were increased by 10 per cent. The table shows the different rates from Nav. Betting on various benefits from NAV. One in four has financial concerns – The economic crisis experienced by many has also become a challenge for people’s mental health, says Elin Herikstad, assistant social manager in the Salvation Army. Earlier in the week they sounded the health alarm. Almost one in four Norwegians answers in a new survey Opinion has done for the Salvation Army that the economy is quite or very challenging – it also takes a toll on the psyche. – We especially see that many parents come to us and have challenges with their mental health because they can’t get their everyday life going. This also affects the children. Unfortunately, children in low-income families can become more isolated than other children, says Elin Herikstad in the Salvation Army. Photo: The Salvation Army According to the Salvation Army, more than half of those with challenging finances say that it has led to alienation, shame and guilt. Eight out of ten say they have dropped social activities and/or leisure activities and the majority have felt lonely. – Unfortunately, this does not surprise us. We will do what we can where we are present and hope the healthcare system does the same for all those who now need different forms of healthcare, says Herikstad. Dreaming of her own apartment The first time “Wipa” approached the Salvation Army, she had a 60 percent position. Through a mentoring program run by the Salvation Army, they got her a 40 percent position in addition to the one she already had. – “With hope in the luggage” is a program where we offer job and social guidance. We want to help people further than just emergency help with the food bag. Many people need to get into work. That’s how we got to know “Wipa”, says social worker Rebecca Espevoll. Social worker Rebecca Espevoll cleans up after all the food bags have been collected. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Housing situation, leisure activities, CV writing and help reading papers from public bodies are also something the tutors assist with. Today, “Wipa” has two employers. She works the first shift from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Then I take the bus home after work and cook dinner for the children. Then travel and work again from 16.30. Will be home in the evening at 8.30pm. Talk to the children a bit, then shower and sleep, she says. She thinks it’s sad that she doesn’t have more time for the children. But thats how it is”. – Sometimes I wake up and I’m scared. Maybe I’ll lose my job, what should I do then? Every weekend she sits down with her two children and plans the next week’s meals. She says that she tries to put money away every month. But that it is difficult in view of the price increase that has been. Many people are experiencing tough economic times in Norway. This is noticeable at the Salvation Army. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – I dream of buying my own apartment. And maybe get a driver’s license. “Wipa” says she knows several people who seek out the Salvation Army for help, and that she has also gotten to know many people in the years she has made use of the offer. – Do you think it’s embarrassing to get food here? – No. And the people here at the Salvation Army, they are so kind and helpful, finishes “Wipa” and puts on a small smile. What do you think should be done to cut the food queues in Norway? Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue
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– They come here and cry – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
