Prague 2 Opens New Food Bank

At the beginning of June, Prague 2 opened a food bank located on the ground floor of the courtyard in the New Town Hall.

The food bank is intended for residents in need of assistance living in Prague 1 and Prague 2, who can pick up food every Monday between 09:00 and 12:00, said Andrea Zoulová, spokesperson for the second municipal district.

According to its website, the Food Bank for Prague and the Central Bohemian Region now has four drop-off points in the
capital.

“Prague 2 has been cooperating with the food bank for the third year now and both the employees of our Humanitarian Department and the charity organizations welcome this quick help for the needy and its interconnection with other services,” said Alexandra Udženija (ODS), the mayor of Prague 2 and deputy mayor for social affairs.

Those interested in applying for the support will have to show their ID card at the first visit, and according to the City Hall, they must also bring a recommendation from the Social Department, the Labour Office, or the authority for social and legal protection of children.

In addition to the New Town Hall, food banks operate in Vršovice for the long-term unemployed and homeless, in Nové Město for the elderly and people with health issues, and in Nusle for mothers with children, who can get diapers and other baby hygiene items in addition to food.

According to the bank’s director, Věra Doušková, the bank receives what is available so it may not be stocked like a supermarket. “It tends to be pasta, rice, milk, sweets, sugar, pastries, fruit, vegetables, pates… In short, whatever our drivers from food chains just drop off,” she explained.

There are 15 banks in the country and they are affiliated with the Czech Federation of Food Banks. They get food from supermarket chains, the European food aid program, producers, growers, and individuals.

In Prague, the bank also processes fresh food that it cannot redistribute in a community kitchen and cooks for the elderly in two shelters. At the same time, it also engages in awareness-raising activities against food waste.