Nosara Food Bank’s COVID-19 Response
First Response
Even before Costa Rica closed its borders on March 19, 2020, tourism in Nosara was already suffering because of COVID-19. Many ex-pat families had already left as well. The tourism economy is the main employer in the area and the impact on Tico families dependent on tourism dollars for employment was immediate. The average family working in the tourism industry does not earn enough money to save for even a small cushion against unemployment. The Nosara Food Bank knew it needed to respond in a very big way.
The first thing we had to do was assess the magnitude of need. The Nosara Food Bank Call Center, sponsored by the Harmony Projects, went live on March 30th and began accepting applications for assistance by phone. We were inundated with calls during the first month. Call center operators took approximately 2,500 calls requesting help.
The criteria for assistance was purposefully broad:
Families from Barco Quebrado to Ostional (an expansion of the Nosara Food Bank’s jurisdiction which had previously been limited to people living in Nosara District) whose breadwinner had lost his or her employment in the Nosara tourism industry when Costa Rica closed its borders on March 19th were eligible to apply for a food subsidy.
These new recipients were in addition to the normal monthly assistance to about 50 families or about 175 individuals. Beginning with the April 2020 monthly distribution we fed 2,467 people. In May we provided a food package to 2,872 individuals and in June, 2,504. During these first three months of the zero-tourism season we spent over $120,000 USD. Providing assistance to more than fifteen times our regular caseload required us to quickly make changes to our normal operations. In addition to the Call Center, the Nosara Food Bank quickly procured and reviewed bids for contracts from all local grocery stores and set up a network of neighborhood community leaders and activists to deliver food. Additional volunteers have been recruited to sort and bag food. The entire operation has been a dramatic success!
Photo by Matthew Chenet
A Healthy Nosara Is Good For Us All
There are so many reasons the Nosara Food Bank’s response to unemployment caused by COVID-19 are a good idea:
1. The Costa Rican government has limited resources.
2. Food assistance reduces desperation due to hunger, which in turn reduces domestic violence, substance abuse and crime;
3. Food Assistance will keep workers in the Nosara area for when tourism returns.
4. Generosity improves relations between the tico and ex-pat communities.
The Nosara Food Bank is providing a safety net for families impacted by COVID-19 that will long be remembered by everyone involved.
Photo by Matthew Chenet
The Future of COVID-19 in Nosara
Our crystal ball is telling us this is going to be a long haul. We know Costa Rica is going to be cautious about opening its borders and that the entire 2020-2021 tourism season is going to be seriously impacted. On the brighter side, we also think that the national medical network will make for efficient distribution of a vaccine, when one becomes available.
In July we saw that families were finding work as national tourism brings visitors to Nosara. Construction projects continue and people are seeking employment in non-tourism sectors. With the help of our neighborhood leaders we are closely monitoring the number of families who have zero income at this time and are providing them with food assistance. We anticipate helping over 800 people per month until United States tourists are allowed to enter Costa Rica and bolster the local economy.
Our cost to provide a food package and basic sanitation supplies for one person for one month varies from $10 to $16 USD depending on the amount of donated food we are able to procure from the National Food Bank. When this food is not available for a reasonable handling charge and transportation cost, we purchase from local grocery stores.