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“We are paying for the war in Ukraine”: in the Alpes-Maritimes, the Restos du Cœur faced with an increase in requests

2022-11-25T10:50:38.969Z


REPORT - Last year, just over 70 tons of food were distributed throughout the department. Officials expect even more this year, due to a tense economic and geopolitical context.


Le Figaro Nice

"We've never known that!"

, exclaimed a few days ago the president of Restos du Coeur, Patrice Douret.

In an interview with

Le Figaro

on the occasion of the launch of the 38th winter campaign of the association founded by Coluche in 1985, the latter was alarmed by the worsening of precariousness in France but also by the situation of restaurants in general.

Fears shared in the Alpes-Maritimes where demand has exploded this year, thanks to a tense economic and geopolitical context.

While the sun is just beginning to warm the pungent late November air, Michel, Nicole, Philippe, Dannie, Édouard, Dominique and Daniel are already busy in the large warehouse in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, near Nice.

1400 square meters where several tons of foodstuffs are piled up on pallets and in two brand new cold rooms.

The whole, intended to irrigate the 16 centers of the department.

Almost the supermarket, except that here, nothing is lost.

Read alsoEsther Duflo: “Poverty is not linked to a particular culture”

It is also in this warehouse that the Restos have domiciled their new departmental headquarters and installed the antenna which must serve the five valleys of the high country by itinerant truck.

A total of 20 volunteers take turns on this logistics platform.

“We are never complete.

There are days when it's fine but others when it's much more complicated

, remarks Michel, who is starting his 3rd winter campaign as a volunteer.

Monday, we were only three for example.

With his neck brace around his neck, Dannie painfully packs a large pallet overflowing with canned salads niçoises.

"I hurt my back, but as long as I can come, I do, there's no reason

," explains the retiree between two rounds of packing.

“Among our beneficiaries, there are well 5 to 6000 Ukrainians this year”

On the first floor of the metal shed, the restaurants have set up their administrative offices.

The opportunity to take stock with Hélène Choux, the restaurant manager in the Alpes-Maritimes.

“We lack arms, it's obvious

, she confirms.

Not so much in the reception centers contrary to what one might think, but rather here, at the warehouse level and for the office part.

Most of the volunteers are retirees, and many don't feel like carrying heavy loads or tiring themselves out in the warehouse, which is understandable."

Hélène Choux, the manager of Restos du Cœur in the Alpes-Maritimes.

Nicolas Daguin

Read alsoWar in Ukraine and inflation plunge millions of children into poverty, according to Unicef

At the level of the department, the Restos du Cœur have around 700 volunteers.

A figure which fluctuates from year to year but which would rather tend to regress since the Covid period.

Conversely, demand is exploding.

“For the 2021-2022 winter campaign, there were 11,200 registered.

And for the summer campaign, the figure rose to 18,500!

It's all the more impressive since, in theory, we help fewer people in the summer

,

insists Hélène Choux

.

“We are paying for the war in Ukraine, clearly.

Among our beneficiaries, there are well 5 to 6000 Ukrainians this year”

, she assures.

This is also what Guy, the manager of the small Restos center in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, near Cannes, observes.

“Today we welcome 20% of Ukrainians.

A year ago it was zero.

They are mainly women with their children.

So, apart from food aid, volunteers in Mandelieu also give French lessons to these new refugees.

"We managed to recruit a former headmistress and a retired teacher

," says the head of the centre.

"Here at least, we are not judged, it feels good"

Still, with or without the Ukrainians, the association is running at full speed throughout the department.

Last year, just over 70 tons of food were distributed.

It will probably be more this year, given the inflation that is hitting many French people hard.

“We meet people in situations of immense precariousness, it is inconceivable.

And I have the impression that it's getting worse and worse

,” laments Guy behind his white mask.

Several food baskets await beneficiaries at the center of Mandelieu-la-Napoule.

Nicholas Daguin.

Beneficiaries have a coffee, drink an orange juice and smoke a few cigarettes in front of the Restos center in Mandelieu-la-Napoule.

Nicolas Daguin

Read also“It’s hard to refuse help”: near Nantes, the Restos du Coeur campaign has started

“Here, my deodorant for example.

I paid 4.60 euros for it a few months ago.

Well now it's 6.70!”

, annoys Louis, a beneficiary of Restos, seated with a few others around a coffee offered by the association.

The cost of living, that of rents, electricity, gasoline, food for the animals... The discussions have only one theme.

We would like to stop coming!

“, quips Marilyn, a regular.

"Yes, but at the same time it allows us to discuss, to meet and to forget a little the gloom"

, answers Monique.

And to continue:

"Here at least, we are not judged, it feels good."

More than ever, the Restos du Cœur are calling for generosity and donations.

"We won't get out of this alone.

This is also why on our side we are multiplying operations such as wrapping Christmas gifts or collecting them (of products offered by local supermarkets, with a view to being redistributed, editor's note).

Before it was twice a week, soon it will be every day, we have no choice

, ”says Guy.

There is no doubt that the association, which according to the will of its founder was only to live for one winter, still has a few seasons ahead of it.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-11-25

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