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There is no problem with the quality, but there is a food bank that distributes items that are difficult to sell because they are nearing their expiration date.

However, recently, as prices soared and the economy worsened, donations were cut in half.



Reporter Kim Hyung-rae reported.



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At a food bank in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, there is a line even on weekday afternoons.



Five items, including food and daily necessities, are provided free of charge every month to those receiving emergency assistance or the lower-income class.



[Food Bank User: Since I live alone, I eat one meal a day now, and if I eat a lot, I eat two meals.

Now, you can eat this stuffed up in hot water...

.]



[(I will also give this as a service. Mother.) Yes, thank you.]



However, there are empty places everywhere on the shelves.



Due to the rapid economic downturn, companies that have been donating over the years have either closed their business or reduced the amount of donations, making it difficult to replenish inventory.



Some items have to be reduced altogether.



[Jo Hae-jeong / Seongnam Open Food Market Manager: The bakery (which was donated to us) also closed, and then the side dish shop closed.

We are always thinking about how to fill this empty shelf and this empty place...

.]



In particular, as the prices of food and household items soared, food banks that receive donations took a direct hit.



Last month, about 11.5 billion won was donated to food banks nationwide, which is less than half of the same month last year.



Donations for household items plummeted by nearly 80%.



On the other hand, the number of users steadily increased every year, and 65% of the total users of last year already visited in the first half of this year alone.



[Lee Jong-seong/Rep. of People's Strength: It is necessary to spread a culture of sharing by individuals and companies, but more meticulous support measures tailored to the vulnerable, such as emergency livelihood support at the government level, should be prepared



. They are threatening even the food of the low-income class by directly hitting the in-food bank.



(Video coverage: Kim Hak-mo, video editing: Won-hee Won)