Tafeln im flexiblen Überfluss

Abstract

Tafeln und ähnliche Initiativen sammeln die systematisch anfallenden Lebensmittelüberschüsse der Überflussgesellschaft, um sie wohltätig zu verteilen. Sie fügen sich damit in einen transnationalen Trend, der eine lokale Charity-Initiative innerhalb von vier Jahrzehnten zu einem global vernetzten Phänomen expandieren ließ. Stephan Lorenz zeigt, dass die Flexibilisierung der Überflussgesellschaft sowohl soziale Ausgrenzung und Polarisierung als auch die Übernutzung von Ressourcen verstärkt. Seine empirische Analyse gewährt Einblicke in die Etablierung eines zivilgesellschaftlichen Engagements, das weniger ein Beitrag zur Überwindung der Probleme ist als vielmehr ein Symptom ihrer Verfestigung.

Comparing German and Italian food banks

“…Some food bank actors are aware of food bank users’ problems in other areas of life, because, for instance, the German food bank offers support with authority, medical and bank visits to its users, which may indicate procedural knowledge (Lorenz, 2012a). Further evidence, which relates to procedural and strategic knowledge, addressed collaborations between food banks and governmental agencies and other welfare organization (Lorenz, 2012b; Baglioni et al , 2016; Rombach and Bitsch, 2017). Collaborating welfare organization provides health, education and legal support (Selke, 2011a).…”

“…In both countries, food insecurity refers to people receiving food aid, and not being able to supply themselves with nutritious, safe and appropriate food to maintain an active life (Riches and Silvasti, 2014, p. 6). People affected are often dependent on social welfare (Tarasuk et al , 2014a), and in addition to their financial struggles, often have psychological and medical problems (Lorenz, 2012a, b; Caraher and Cavicchi, 2014; Lambie-Mumford and Dowler, 2014; Chiu et al , 2016).…”

“…Pfeiffer et al (2011) further states that some people with limited financial resources work illegally or exploit their body to gain income. Overall, food poor people approach their situation in a pragmatic way, even though many food bank users perceive visits to the food bank as shameful (Pfeiffer et al , 2011; Lorenz, 2012a, b; Selke 2012; Riches and Silvasti, 2014; Baglioni et al , 2016).…”

“…The German food bank (in German “Tafel”) is a charitable nonprofit organization that redistributes surplus food items to destitute people (Lorenz, 2012a, b). On the national level it is organized as an umbrella association with approximately 900 local food pantries nationwide (Selke, 2011b; Von Normann, 2011; Federal Association of German Food Banks, 2017).…”

“…Food bank actors’ knowledge about food insecurity is implicitly addressed in several studies but appears to not have been researched directly in published papers. Prior food bank studies in Germany rather focused on sociological, theological and political aspects of poverty (Rohrmann, 2011; Sedelmeier, 2011; Selke and Maar, 2011; Werth, 2011; Lorenz, 2012a, b). Similarly, Italian food bank studies investigated managerial and political aspects of poverty (Garrone et al , 2014; Santini and Cavicchi, 2014; Baglioni et al , 2016).…”