Before coming to Crete in early June and for a few months I’ve volunteered with Exeter Food Action, and will on my return. It works in partnership with Fareshare South West to fight hunger and food waste in Exeter and surrounding areas.

Since being here I’ve spent time in two cities, Chania and Rethymno. In Chania particularly, the largest of the two, I’ve seen a small number of people on the streets gesturing towards their mouths with one hand, the other cupped and outstretched. They’re mostly elderly widows but also a few women from the Roma community. I had a chat with one of the former, Sophia, about which I posted earlier here

In Greece there have been continuous cuts to the pension system with the country’s ever decreasing GDP affecting pensioners significantly. It’s estimated that around 1.5 million now live below the poverty line. That means that approximately 15% of the country’s entire population of 10.3 million are now having to adapt to living with a total income loss of 70% .

I’ve asked about the existence of food banks in both cities, which raised eyebrows on one occasion. I had to put down my beer and hastily correct an obvious misunderstanding. Being a budget savvy international food bank tourist isn’t a good look.

I’ve found out that there are none in either city, although one opened this year to the east in Heraklion, the largest city on the island and its capital. Opening in May it’s the only one on Crete and now the sixth in Greece: Τράπεζας Τροφίμων Κρήτης: Food Bank of Crete. The picture at the top of this post shows their official opening.

The Food Bank of Crete isn’t the only initiative seeking to alleviate food poverty on the island. Crete for Life runs practical projects to support children and young adults made vulnerable by war, illness, abuse and social or economic poverty and exclusion. For several years its ‘Tomato Express’ programme has been distributing vegetables considered by local farmers to be imperfect by getting them onto the tables of people who need them.

Nationally, Greece’s organisation of food banks has been operating for 25 years and serves 150 associated charities with 43,000 beneficiaries in Attica alone, a region encompassing the country’s capital city, Athens, and surrounding areas. They’ve produced a very slick video showing the good work that they do (below).

I’ll be passing through Heraklion in July and may pay the Food Bank of Crete a visit. I’ll be doing so in a personal capacity, not as a representative of Exeter Food Action. And I’ll be sure to clarify early on that I’m not a food bank tourist with my eyes on a free meal.

See you back in Exeter late July/early August 😎

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