Launched the 11th "Food Bank Children's Support National Project".

The National Council of Food Banks (Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Hiroaki Yoneyama) has launched the 11th "Food Bank Children's Support National Project" starting July 1, 2026, in cooperation with affiliated food bank organizations nationwide to support low-income households with children during the summer vacation period when school lunches are not provided.

Due to the prolonged rise in prices, requests for food support from households facing difficulties are increasing at food banks nationwide. On the other hand, the amount of donated food is on a declining trend, leading to situations where necessary support cannot be adequately delivered at the support sites. In response to these circumstances, this project aims to provide intensive support to low-income households with children, targeting food support for 50,000 households nationwide.

Scenes from the 10th Food Bank Children's Support National Project

What is the "Food Bank Children's Support National Project"?

The "Food Bank Children's Support National Project" is a project carried out in cooperation by the National Council of Food Banks and its affiliated food bank organizations. This project aims to facilitate the early detection and support of low-income households with children, which have been difficult to identify, and to expand food support activities nationwide. Food bank organizations in each region work in cooperation with administrative bodies, social welfare councils, and educational institutions such as elementary and junior high schools to carry out intensive food support activities during summer and winter vacation periods when school lunches are not provided.

Project Overview

Name: 11th Food Bank Children's Support National Project

Implementation Period: July 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026

Support Target: 50,000 households nationwide

Activity Content: Provide intensive food support to low-income households with children during the summer vacation period when school lunches are not provided.

Background

The child poverty rate in Japan is 11.5%, with 1 in 9 children living in poverty. Furthermore, the poverty rate for single-parent households is 44.5%, indicating that many households face economic difficulties.

During the summer vacation period, the absence of school lunches significantly increases the burden of food expenses for families who rely on them for daily meals. Additionally, as children spend more time at home, utility costs also increase, further exacerbating the financial strain on households.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the National Council of Food Banks among its member organizations revealed that over 80% of organizations have seen an increase in support requests from households in need. Approximately 60% of organizations have also experienced a decrease in food donations, leading to a continued inability to meet the growing support needs. (Figure 1)

Towards the Largest Scale Support Ever

This project will be implemented with food bank organizations in each region collaborating with administrative bodies, social welfare councils, schools, and other entities to identify households with children requiring support. Over the past 10 implementations, support has been provided to over 300,000 households. Specifically, the 10th project supported 47,120 households, making the target of 50,000 households for this year the largest scale to date.

List of Participating Organizations in This Project

The Need to Strengthen the Operational Foundation of Food Bank Organizations

Amidst increasing support needs, the amount of food handled by food banks in Japan remains at approximately 16,000 tons annually. In contrast, food banks in the United States handle 7.39 million tons of food annually, which is about 460 times that of Japan.

Domestic food banks lack the necessary facilities and personnel for storing, transporting, and distributing food, making it difficult to deliver sufficient food to households in need. The National Council of Food Banks believes that strengthening the organizational foundation through public support is essential for food banks to function as social infrastructure that balances food loss reduction with support for households in need.

Request for Support

The implementation of this project requires donations of food and financial contributions from corporations, organizations, and individuals. We kindly ask for your cooperation in delivering food to children in need.

【Organization Overview】

Organization Name: National Council of Food Banks

Location: 7F Hijikata Bldg., 1-8-17 Kitashinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0074

TEL: 03-6912-9444

Representative Director: Hiroaki Yoneyama

Established: November 13, 2015

URL: https://www.fb-kyougikai.net/

Activities: Policy advocacy, public relations activities, know-how support for food bank organizations, mediation of food donations

Mission: To create a society where no one worries about their next meal

Contact Person: Kobayashi (03-6912-9444)