Up to 450,000 people in Lithuania are struggling with food insecurity, according to Simonas Gurevičius, head of the Food Bank (Maisto Bankas) NGO.

"The Food Bank is currently assisting 232,000 people," Gurevičius stated, adding that the need for food aid is even greater. Surveys indicate that around 400,000 to 450,000 people, or roughly 15% of the population, are in need of food assistance.

Gurevičius highlighted that food insecurity typically worsens in the autumn, as increased heating bills and other expenses place additional financial strain on low-income households.

At the same time, approximately 400,000 tonnes of food are wasted annually in Lithuania, Gurevičius noted, emphasizing the potential to alleviate hunger. "There are sufficient resources and people willing to help, but we need the right decisions to ensure that food reaches those in need," he said.

Recently, the Food Bank reported that more than 274,000 non-perishable food items were donated during its traditional food drive last weekend. Photo by Delta News Hub, Wikimedia commons.