Food aid recipients dumping groceries in trash spark outrage in Kokkola

Food aid packages have been found discarded in trash bins and outdoor areas across Kokkola, prompting local charities to implement stricter rules and public awareness campaigns, Yle reports.

Satu Hietala, a resident of the Koivuhaa district, discovered several abandoned food aid bags in her apartment complex courtyard while taking out the trash before work. “I just started crying—why would anyone do this? People line up for food, then toss it straight in the bin,” she said. Hietala, who has often gone without aid herself due to high demand, stressed that some recipients treat the service as a pastime rather than a necessity. “They hit every distribution point even if they don’t need the food. Why not just take what you actually need?”

Local charities, coordinated by the Kokkola Pentecostal Church, distributed over 25,000 food packages in Central Ostrobothnia last year through nearly 530 events, primarily in Kokkola. Hannu Rekilä, the regional food coordinator, called the waste “heartbreaking” and blamed it partly on overstocking. “If people hoard, the food expires and ends up in the trash,” he said. To curb the issue, the church now advises recipients to sort through their packages immediately and leave unwanted items—such as allergenic products—in designated boxes for others. Some packages are also prepared without pork to accommodate dietary restrictions.

In Helsinki, the charity Hurstin Apu avoids the problem by letting recipients choose individual items rather than pre-packed bags. “We only pre-assemble for those with mobility issues,” said director Sini Hursti. “Otherwise, people take what they need and leave the rest.” Hursti suggested Kokkola adopt a similar system or place surplus boxes at distribution sites and problem areas.

Rekilä acknowledged that language barriers may contribute to the issue, with information now provided in Finnish, English, and Russian. He remains optimistic that clearer communication and unified guidelines among the eight local aid organizations will resolve the problem. “I don’t believe anyone does this maliciously,” he said. “But if someone takes more than they can use, waste is inevitable.”