“Alfortville is an exemplary model of solidarity!
» boasts Nordine Terranti, organizer of this couscous which is shared at the restaurant “Les Hirondelles” by around thirty guests.
Most never go to restaurants, or only rarely.
They are working poor, retired or homeless, and are enjoying a free dinner this Tuesday evening.
“We invited beneficiaries from all friendly associations,” explains the president of the Socialidaire association.
The idea is to create a connection.
»
Marie-Claire came via the Secours catholique du Val-de-Marne, which she meets during knitting workshops.
“I wanted to see people, I can't really afford to go to restaurants, with my little pension.
» Sitting across from her, Marcel, an Armenian retiree, points out to her: “It's the first time we've met even though we always see each other at the bus stop.
»
Traders, baker… “everyone played the game”
The atmosphere is cozy, family-friendly, and the scent of spices that emanates from Feroudja Saïdoun's kitchen blends with the working-class character of this place, which has been passed down from father to son since 1977. "We have a sense of welcome," assures us. Aziz Saïdoun, the boss, who has made his restaurant available and will not make any recipes.
“Everyone played the game: the market traders gave us vegetables, a baker provided the pastries.
»
Alfortville, January 23.
The recipe is Kabyle, inherited from Feroudja's family.
In Alfortville, solidarity works in a network.
As evidenced by this “Solidarity Week”, started with the couscous evening, and organized for the first time in the city.
“We wanted to bring together associations and institutions and involve citizens,” explains Etienne Fillol (Generation. s), deputy mayor in charge of solidarity.
We are used to working together, often in a very concrete way.
An association can say
I need blankets, breast milk
for its beneficiaries, and there is always someone to respond.
»
Also read: The Kremlin-Bicêtre: Laurent, a 63-year-old homeless man found frozen to death in the street
This web of solidarity was strengthened during confinements during the health crisis, when large food distributions were organized in a coordinated manner.
Today, town hall, associations and volunteers communicate on a dedicated WhatsApp group.
A poverty rate of 20%
“The DNA of Alfortville”, to use the words of PS mayor Luc Carvounas, integrates a historically anchored social policy which responds to growing precariousness.
In 2020, the poverty rate stood at 20%, compared to 14% nationally.
Since then, the city's subsidies to the Municipal Social Action Center have increased by 20%, while the overall amount of the various aid allocated (food vouchers, energy, etc.) has increased by 35%.
In 2023, the city follows in the footsteps of Paris, and participates for the first time in the Night of Solidarity, a sort of gigantic maraude to identify the homeless.
This year, 32 municipalities in Greater Paris are participating this Thursday, January 25, including Choisy-le-Roi, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre and Villejuif in Val-de-Marne.
Eight teams made up of Red Cross professionals, regular agents and community volunteers will travel around the city to meet homeless people and give them a questionnaire.
But in Alfortville, until Saturday, Restos du coeur, Secours catholique, canteens and solidarity grocery stores open their doors, and run a solidly formed network "in this small town of 3 km2, where social and cultural services operate with citizens who went to the same schools, live in the same neighborhoods and meet at the market,” concludes Nordine Terranti, an Alfortville resident for 62 years.