The Name in the Fight Against Waste and Poverty: TİDER!

Founded in 2010, The Basic Needs Association (TİDER) has been working for 13 years in the fight against waste and poverty, ensuring that people can access their basic needs in a fair and equitable way. TİDER is expanding the food banking network across Turkey while aiming to open a food bank in every district. As a member of The Global Food Banking Network (GFN), TİDER also represents Turkey on international platforms. Currently, TİDER operates 65 food banks across 35 provinces in 7 regions of Turkey, reaching over 900,000 people in need.

Food Banking: Preventing Waste

A food bank is a nonprofit organization that collects surplus, unsellable, or donated food, cleaning products, clothing, and fuel items, and distributes them to low-income individuals, families, or charitable organizations that serve those in need. Food banking is not the solution to poverty in a society or country, but it is a significant support to the solution. It represents a serious collaboration from three important sectors: the public sector (government at all levels), private sector (business communities, including the food industry and media), and the volunteer sector (NGOs). This cooperation is aimed at meeting the needs of disadvantaged individuals.

The Way to Reduce Waste: Donations

Supporting the food banking system with product donations helps reduce waste and also leads to a decrease in poverty and hunger. As the amount and variety of donated products increase, the system can operate with just operational costs, and as a result, the cost of a meal for a person can drop to as low as 50 kuruş.

In Conclusion

With 13 years of experience, TİDER plays a crucial role in the fight against waste and poverty. The food banking and donations help not only provide economic benefits but also strengthen social solidarity by bringing together people from all walks of life.