Le Figaro Bordeaux
Their arms may lift mountains to help the poorest, but the volunteers of the Secours populaire de Saint-André de Cubzac did not escape the ire of the rioters. Since the death of the young Nahel in Nanterre, killed by a policeman after a refusal to comply, the France is on fire and blood. Thus, their premises - located in a quiet town of 12,000 inhabitants - was set on fire in the night from Saturday to Sunday. "We go to great lengths to help others. It's sad. We wonder why set fire to a Secours populaire when we are volunteers and at the service of the most disadvantaged, "says Danielle Gruel to Le Figaro. The secretary general of the local branch since 2016 says she is disappointed and very angry. Everything has to be rebuilt.
The garbage fire, lit that night between 2 am and 2:30 am rue du passage des associations, quickly spread to the container in front of the premises. It is used to collect donations outside opening hours. The roof caught fire. And a large part of the premises, containing a stock of recently purchased food, was destroyed. Boxes of hygiene supplies, collected by children and schools, also went up in smoke. Also reduced to ashes is the office and its archives. "There is no city in Saint-André-de-Cubzac. We don't know who knows, we're powerless, we suffer... And we will have to start from scratch, "laments the manager, aged 73. His determination to continue to help those in need, however, remains intact.
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The sell-offs scheduled for Thursday and Saturday are maintained. The clothes stored in the second part of the room are intact. They will therefore be sold to raise funds to leave in a new place (already lent by the town hall) so that the association can resume its activities this Monday. Calling for financial donations to bounce back as quickly as possible, Danielle Gruel concludes with determination: "The team is supportive. Everyone is comforting themselves to continue, despite the difficulties that await us.
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