‘Largest Food Donation Ever’ - 40,000 Meals
Ásgerður Jóna Flosadóttir, head of Iceland Family Aid. mbl.is/Ernir Eyjólfsson
Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga (KS) – the Skagafjörður coop in North Iceland – and its food production subsidiaries have announced their intention to donate the equivalent of 40,000 meals until Christmas, Morgunblaðið reports.
“This is our effort to assist people facing temporary difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences,” states Þórólfur Gíslason, manager of KS.
“These are tough times in society, and no one should suffer shortage for that reason,” he states. “It is important for us to unite in this fight.”
Clearly, the food to be donated has a high monetary value, but Þórólfur declines to provide any figures.
Meat, fish and dairy products will be included – all of it quality Icelandic food and not at all approaching an expiration date. “All of it is quality food, the same sort we’d export or sell domestically in grocery stores,” Þórólfur explains.
In his opinion, it is essential for Icelandic businesses and food industry to assist those who are experiencing difficulties during this unusual situation. That’s the idea behind this donation.
“Skagafjörður is a district that produces a great deal of food, and we see it as our duty to assist during these circumstances,” he notes.
In the coming days, distribution of the food will be planned and charities asked to deliver the donations to those in need.
“This is a godsend,” states Ásgerður Jóna Flosadóttir, head of Iceland Family Aid – a non-profit organization that assists low-income individuals and families with food donations, clothing and other necessities. The need for such assistance is dire and keeps increasing, she adds.
“This is the largest food donation ever and couldn’t come at a better time,” she states. “I don’t know whether people are aware of how serious the situation is.” It is the worst it has been during the 26 years she’s been involved in charity work.
“I don’t even have the words to describe how happy I was when Þórólfur called me,” she exclaims and adds she hopes this unprecedented generosity will serve as a motivation for others to donate to those in need.
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