Gyeonggi Province Provides Additional Support for Labor Costs and Equipment to Revitalize Foodmarket Operations

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province is newly launching the 'Outstanding Foodbank·Foodmarket of the Year' project, through which it will select 1-2 superior business establishments and provide additional support for labor costs and equipment to revitalize foodbank and foodmarket operations that distribute donated goods to vulnerable populations and others.

The province will accept applications for participation in the 'Outstanding Foodbank·Foodmarket of the Year' from July 15 to 29 from foodbanks and foodmarkets throughout the province.

Foodbanks and foodmarkets are private sector initiatives that receive food and daily necessities from corporations and individuals and distribute them free of charge to those in need and vulnerable social welfare facilities.

In Gyeonggi Province, some institutions began establishing themselves organically starting in 1998, and currently 86 are in operation.

To support these business establishments, Gyeonggi Province has been implementing the 'G-Food Dream' project and operating equipment support projects since 2013, which provide labor costs (for one person) and equipment (such as refrigerated trucks) to business establishments that have been in operation for three years and have undergone certain evaluations.

However, of the total 86 establishments, 64 are receiving 'G-Food Dream' support as of this year, and there have been voices from the field about uniform subsidy support.

Since most establishments receive this support, it impairs competition consciousness and motivation, and lowers service quality.

Accordingly, the province plans through the 'Outstanding Foodbank·Foodmarket of the Year,' a new project in the 8th popular election term, to select 1-2 business establishments annually that have superior performance in securing donation amounts and securing users and donors, and promoting policy project discovery, and provide additional support such as labor costs (for one person), refrigerated trucks, facility function reinforcements according to business needs such as facility remodeling, and equipment.

The support targets are 64 foodbanks and foodmarkets throughout the province that are participating in the 'G-Food Dream' project as of the announcement date (July 15).

Applications can be submitted through the relevant city or county from the 15th through the 29th.

The province plans to evaluate material provision performance and the business establishment's own project performance through an evaluation committee review and notify the final beneficiaries in August.

Kim Nam-guk, Director of the Welfare Business Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The 'Outstanding Foodbank·Foodmarket of the Year' project in the 8th popular election term is one of the 'field-oriented administration' emphasized by Governor Kim Dong-yeon," and added, "We will continue to strengthen communication with the field going forward, continue to supplement donation food and other provision projects, and actively guarantee food security for vulnerable populations."

Meanwhile, as of last year, 85 foodbanks and foodmarkets throughout the province provided goods valued at 62.9 billion won to 52,108 vulnerable individuals and 1,857 organizations.