By Andreas Jagersberger | Philanthropy & Partnerships
Covid-19 increases the number of people in need
"The phrase 'the crisis is over' is still not appropriate. Not from an epidemiological point of view and also not when it comes to the social consequences of the pandemic. In Austria, 1.22 million people are at risk of poverty," warned Caritas Austria President Michael Landau at the beginning of November 2021. The Corona crisis has brought new groups of people into precarious situations. One third of those currently seeking help in the Caritas social counselling centers have never made use of Caritas support in their lives before.
This becomes particularly clear during the cold season. Prices rise while incomes fall due to the Covid-19 pandemic. More and more people in Austria have to choose between a warm apartment and food at the end of the month - in one of the richest countries in the world. For those who can no longer make ends meet on their own, there are 56 Caritas social counselling centers throughout Austria that offer quick and unbureaucratic help. More than 62,000 people in Austria were supported in Caritas social counselling centers in 2020.
More than 70 tons of food distributed
To support people that were no longer able to put food on the table and to prevent children to have to go to bed hungry Caritas distributed food packages and food vouchers in Austria – above all Caritas Salzburg. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis in Austria, Caritas Salzburg distributed more than 5,000 food packages totalling more than 70 tons of goods for people in need. How important this support is can been seen in the gratitude of those affected. As one single mother wrote: “I would like to say thank you again for the food package. I am a single mom with two kids. My youngest is autistic and has care level 3. Even though I go to work there is not much left at the end of the month.”
Since a new Austrian-wide lockdown came into effect at the beginning of this week, food packages are currently being put together again. For all those who need support in the current situation: Minimum pensioners, large families, single parents, homeless people, people with disabilities and those who had never thought they have to turn to Caritas for support in their lives. Thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers, corporate partners and generous donors like you Caritas is able to support these people in an extraordinary time of hardship.
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