Lunch support to help both "child-rearing families" and "restaurants" New Corona May 8 11:56
As the effects of the new coronavirus become more serious, certain efforts by local governments are drawing attention. Through "bento," we are supporting restaurants and child-rearing families together, and are now spreading all over the country.
Both "help" lunch support
One of the local governments doing this is Yoshikawa City, Saitama Prefecture.
In response to the increasing number of single-parent families in need due to the new coronavirus, the city started a free lunch box service for single-parent families in mid-April.
The bento provided here was purchased by the city from restaurants in the city where sales are declining.
Even in Yoshikawa, the sales of many restaurants in the city have dropped sharply due to the new coronavirus.
It is said that he started this initiative to support a single-parent family and restaurants as much as possible.
Currently, 10 restaurants in the city are participating, but it is said that the efforts are gradually expanding with word of mouth, and the number of stores wishing to participate is increasing.
The mother, who says she has four children, said, "I'm thankful because I will lose my school lunch and spend more money on food and other expenses."
In addition, a man who runs a Western restaurant that participated in this initiative said, "Since sales have fallen by about 30%, it is helpful. I want everyone to do their best to return to their normal lives."
In Yoshikawa City, we decided to carry out the service originally scheduled until May 1st until the end of this month due to the extension of the elementary school and junior high school.
Bento support spread to local governments
When I looked it up, I found that these efforts were being carried out in various places.
In Sakaimachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, we offer free lunches for up to 190 meals every day for children under the age of 18 living in the town.
This lunch is provided by 19 restaurants in the town, and the town pays for the lunch.
The Sakaimachi Town Development Promotion Division says, "I hear some voices from restaurants that I want to help and want to continue. I'd like to support households with children because the elementary and junior high schools are still closed."
On the other hand, in Ogano Town in western Saitama Prefecture, where tourism is thriving, we provide free lunch boxes for child-rearing families as a support measure for local inns.
It is said that tourists in Ogano Town have been drastically reduced due to the influence of the new corona, and inns in the town have been hit hard.
As a measure to support the tourism industry in the town, we have set a budget of 8 million yen and started this initiative, and are buying bento from three inns in the town.
Also, it means that now more than 80% of the households in the town with elementary and junior high school students use this service.
Ogano Town Hospitality Division said, "I'm calling out from here because there are a lot of people who make a living from sightseeing, and the number of tourists is drastically decreasing. I want to help each other through this difficult situation." .
In Yoshikawa City, Saitama Prefecture, which supports single-parent families and restaurants, the influence of the new coronavirus is protracted, and local governments across the country have been inquiring that they would like to introduce it. It means that they are spreading.