THE CHALLENGE
The biggest challenges for the Team Österreich Tafel are the lack of storage and cooling capacities, which makes it even more difficult to dispense refrigerated goods. There is also a shortage of hygiene items and long-life food. Issues such as poverty and volunteer management also affect the food banks.
OUTCOMES
A participant observation, 14 expert interviews with those responsible for the food banks and the district management, as well as a standardized questionnaire for the volunteers, revealed that there is a shortage of hygiene items and long-life food. It is also difficult to refrigerate the food. Any food left over after serving represents an additional expense for the banks. A possible delivery service for people with limited mobility has already been discussed, but the idea hast not been pursued yet. The volunteers would like to have better equipment at the distribution rooms, team meetings and a more intensive exchange with the other food banks for possible synergy effects.
Austrian Red Cross
- Study Program: Nonprofit-, Sozial- und Gesundheitsmanagement
- Team: Jessica Draxl, Martina Filzmaier, Florian Göttle, Karol Partyka, Pia Reichmann
- Supervisor(s): Margit Schäfer, Lukas Kerschbaumer, Nils Mevenkamp
- Partner Organisation: Team Österreich Tafeln Tirol (Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz)
- Year project was carried out: 2021
Partner Statement:
"With the survey of the food bank managers and volunteers, a research basis was created that shows us in the regional association of the Red Cross Tyrol which measures we have to create for an optimal care of the clients of the food banks. Cooperations like this one with the Nonprofit, Social and Health Management degree programme are win-win-win for everyone - for the students, the food bank clients, for us as an NGO, for the MCI and for all of us as a society. Gladly again at any time!" - Dr Margit Schäfer, Vice President Red Cross Tyrol