Toulouse. the Restos du Coeur winter campaign promises to be tough
The new president of Restos du Coeur 31, Marie-Claude Bouquié, explains how this 38th winter campaign is starting in a difficult economic context. Maintenance.
How to start this new winter campaign?
All charities are seeing this: the context is complicated with a growing number of beneficiaries, linked in particular to soaring prices and also to the covid episode which has made a large number of workers precarious. This year, faced with the large number of applicants, the Restos have modified the scales by renting into account the remainder to be lived once the amount of rental charges and fluids (electricity) has been deducted. This increases the number of needy people.
Do you also see a lack of volunteers and policy change in supermarkets?
Since the covid, people have refocused on them. As for the products donated by supermarkets, they are hampered by the Garrot law which authorizes very short consumption dates: which again reduces the contribution to associations. The many promotions do not help us either.
Who are the beneficiaries ?
Single women with children, foreigners, students and poor workers. There is also a part of the population who does not come to restaurants, especially in rural areas where the soaring price of gasoline is blocking the movement of people. To help them, we have a traveling food truck via the town halls.
How do you deal with this situation?
We are thinking of turning to local products to improve distribution. What worked small producers and would therefore be very virtuous. You still have to pay them properly.
Do you have any supporters?
The institutions: the City of Toulouse, the regional council, the departmental council. Companies like Ldl. Private donations. And the Enfoiros from INSA who just wrote a check for €29,000 to Restaurants. Very committed young people.
Do you remain optimistic?
It’s necessary. We know that the Restos du Coeur are still there for a long time, so we have to innovate, in particular by developing personal assistance. We are also developing the “Les Toits du Coeur” formula with nine accommodations for single men sent by 115. Structures with a social worker that work very well, for people, some of whom have a job but who sleep outside. There are also integration projects in the kitchen and warehouse to get off to a good start. And finally the street with 500 meal distributions per day 7 days a week on the Raisins, Minimes and Jules Julien sites. And of course the marauders. To give you some figures: 1.9 million meals served in 2022. 1,300 volunteers in Haute-Garonne. Which makes me say that associations are essential in society to ensure a certain social peace.