In Toulouse, solidarity baskets offered to students
It’s probably a long-awaited moment every week for students whose food budgets are sometimes tight. Like every Wednesday for a year, the ecological association of the Faculty of Law of Toulouse, “Union for the Earth “, organize his Distribution usual of solidarity baskets. It takes place January 5 from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. in the hall of the Arsenal in front of the Faculty of the Capitol.
Our goal is really to make sustainable consumption patterns accessible to students and to introduce them to organic and seasonal products in bulk, ”explains Emma Tomczak to The Independent Opinion, vice-president of association.
Because consuming in an eco-responsible way can sometimes prove to be expensive, even more for students who have fallen into precariousness with the Covid-19 health crisis.
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Cereals, starches, eggs, fruits and vegetables
To make these products accessible, the association offers two types of baskets. The first includes foodstuffs. The price is set at 3.50 euros the unit instead of 12 euros. “The content varies every week, but the base remains fixed,” says Emma Tomczak. In detail, it contains 1kg of starches, 500g of legumes, 6 organic eggs, 500g of breakfast cereals and 500g of fruits and vegetables depending on the arrival.
Each week, food items vary depending on arrival. © / Emma Tomczak
“For cereals, it also varies from one week to another. It can be puffed rice, or even muesli”, explains the vice-president. On the menu this week: green lentils, type cereals ‘honey balls’, whole grain semolina, kiwis and potatoes.
Soaps, toothpaste, toothbrush and cottons
The other basket is this time composed of hygiene products. And new this year, the association offers three different ones. “The first includes a deodorant and one shampoo, both solid. The second, a soap for the body, an earpick and two washable cottons. And the third also contains body soap, refillable toothpaste and a toothbrush with an interchangeable head, “explains Emma.
The latest hygiene basket includes toothpaste, a toothbrush with a refillable head, and body soap. © / Emma Tomczak
Little more, you even have the possibility of choose your perfume in body soaps. Lavender, patchouli, honey, amber, in short, there is something for everyone! Price side, they are sold at 3 euros, against 20 euros on the market for the first basket, and 10 euros for the other two.
“The faculty subsidizes us”
partnership tied with Day by day, a bulk groceries located at the Patte d’Oie in Toulouse. “With the money we get from the sale, we finance our contract with the grocery store, which then supplies us with the products,” explains the 23-year-old student.
But with prices this low, the revenue is of course not enough. “So it’s mostly the faculty that subsidizes us. And sometimes we also respond to competitions for projects from the department or the region, “explains the volunteer.
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More than a sum of baskets distributed each week
In total, “Union pour la terre” distributes every week 50 food baskets, and 75 hygiene baskets. To reserve and benefit from a basket on D-Day, the association has set up a online registration on the platform Hello Asso.
Five baskets are also reserved each week for students supported by social workers. And they benefit from it for free “, adds the student in Master 2.
And when there are baskets left, the association can offer them to non-registrants. “But honestly, that’s rarely the case,” admits the young girl. Because if at the origin, the launch of this action was not directly linked to the health crisis, it seems today much appreciated by students having financial difficulties.
Useful information
Distribution of solidarity baskets every Wednesday, from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Faculty of Law of the Capitole Toulouse, entrance hall
Upstream registration here
Price: between 3 and 3.5 euros
Contact: [email protected]