TOKYO - Many families struggle to maintain a regular diary of their daily lives, especially during the summer break, which is a particularly challenging time. Support organizations like Kids Door, which deliver food to children in need, are seeing an increase in requests for help.
One of the volunteers, Watanabe, spoke about the donations the organization receives, including vegetables and instant food items donated by companies. She also mentioned the difficulty in providing variety in the food, but they strive to make the meals as diverse as possible, given their constraints.
The summer break exacerbates difficulties for families facing poverty. In many cases, there are an increase in calls for help, as families express concern about how they will manage. The organization receives such inquiries even from remote islands, indicating the widespread nature of the problem.
Typically, the organization visits homes once a month, but during the summer break, they increase their visits, sometimes seeing families every week. Watanabe shared her concerns about the growing issues for families with children, particularly those who can’t afford air conditioning during the hot summer months, leading to concerns about their health.
The rising cost of food is hitting struggling families hard. According to a survey by Kids Door, 64% of families reported a shortage of rice, while a total of 93% said they were facing some form of rice shortage. The situation is particularly severe for families with incomes below 1 million yen, where 35% reported that their children's weight had not increased over the past year, and 44% noticed a decline in their children's concentration.
On the other hand, the rise in prices has made it harder for support organizations to gather donations. Even though food from government stockpiles has been distributed, the amount of assistance available is increasingly limited.
In addition, Watanabe's organization is also involved in distributing government stockpiles of rice to about 12,000 households across Japan. She mentioned that the charity had received numerous donations from businesses, which will be distributed as well.
Despite these efforts, families still face significant challenges. Rising food prices mean that families have to make tough decisions about what to cut from their budgets. While rice can still be afforded, meat and other essentials are increasingly out of reach for many.
Summer breaks without school meals are placing even more strain on families, who are being forced into even tighter financial situations. Watanabe emphasized that the increased poverty levels are making it harder for children to grow properly, with many children experiencing reduced food intake.
As a result, the situation is becoming critical, especially for families where parents work non-regular jobs. A survey conducted by Kids Door revealed that 81% of parents reported a reduction in the amount of food at home, while 84% said the quality of food had worsened.
Unfortunately, wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, and families with non-regular workers are particularly affected. While 30% of households have seen a wage increase, it has not been enough to cover the increased cost of living. Many families, particularly those working for small businesses, are still struggling to make ends meet.
Source: テレ東BIZ
