Bruges (Eurotoday) – In January 2025, Bruges food bank Huize Fotini in Sint-Pieters, led by Christiane De Rutter, faces eviction, leaving over 100 families in a precarious situation. The city had proposed St. Paul’s Church as an alternative location, but it was deemed unsuitable.
Will Huize Fotini Food Bank Find a New Home Before Eviction?
Huize Fotini Food Bank, known for serving vulnerable families in Bruges, faces a challenging relocation process. Chairwoman Christiane De Rutter expressed frustration over the lack of viable options provided by the city. The city offered St. Paul’s Church as a new location, but the sacristy – intended for storing and distributing food – was cluttered and not equipped for operational needs. Many of the food bank’s volunteers, being elderly, were unable to contribute to the cleanup efforts, further complicating the situation.
As the January 2025 deadline approaches, the food bank has been racing to find a suitable location. De Rutter criticized the lack of timely support from the city, especially after two decades of dedicated service to the community. Despite their best efforts, she described the situation as a “minor ending” to their long-standing work, citing bureaucratic delays and insufficient aid from local authorities.
Pieter Marchal, Bruges alderman for Heritage Management, responded to the criticism, defending the city’s actions. He noted that while the city regretted the impending closure of Huize Fotini, it had done all it could to assist. However, the food bank’s leaders felt abandoned and disillusioned by the city’s response.
“As a city, we have done what we can. In any case, I regret that the decision was made to stop,” said Pieter Marchal (CD&V).
How Will Huize Fotini’s Closure Impact Over 100 Families?
The closure of Huize Fotini has created a significant challenge for more than 100 individuals from 35 families who relied on its services each month. The food bank sourced supplies from organizations such as the West Flanders food bank, the European fund FEAD, Mintus, and direct donations.
Faced with eviction, chairwoman De Rutter explained that they had worked to ensure their clients could access other resources. Families were referred to the CAW (Centre for General Welfare), the OCMW (Public Center for Social Welfare), and other food banks in Bruges.
“We referred all these people to the CAW and the OCMW and to the other food banks in Bruges,” De Rutter concluded.
The food bank was notified in mid-December that they must vacate their current location, as the school group owning the building plans to renovate and repurpose it. De Rutter attributed delays in addressing the situation to the slow formation of the new city council and the holiday season, which hindered progress in securing an alternative site.
The eviction marks the end of an era for Huize Fotini, whose volunteers dedicated years to helping the underprivileged. While efforts were made to soften the impact of the closure, many families will now have to adjust to receiving support from alternative sources in the city.
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