The Restos du cœur launch their 37th winter campaign, marked by “the worsening of precariousness” – Le Monde

Tens of thousands of volunteers are launching the new Restos du cœur winter campaign on Tuesday, November 23. For the 37^e year in a row, distribution centers will be opened to the poorest to eat and, this time again, in the midst of a health crisis.

The Covid-19 pandemic marked the spirits last year, with the lengthening of the queues in front of the food distribution centers. The pressure is not decreasing: the association created by Coluche has helped 1.2 million people since November 2020 and distributed 142 million meals, against 136 million the previous year.

“On the ground, we really see an increase in the precariousness of the most disadvantaged, especially among people we already know”, explains to Agence France-Presse (AFP) its president, Patrice Douret. More than manufacturing “New poor”, the epidemic has especially depressed those who were already weakened, according to the association. More than half (53%) of its beneficiaries say they have suffered a loss of income related to the health crisis, while 15% admit that it has forced them to push the door of Restaurants.

“The reproduction of precariousness concerns us more than ever”, continues Mr. Douret, particularly worried about the difficulties encountered by young people and single mothers with children; 40% of the beneficiaries of the Restaurants are minors. “We are really afraid that the economic recovery suggested by the indicators will exclude these most precarious populations. “

Food sacrificed to pay the bills

In the run-up to the presidential election, the government is currently touting the effects of its “Whatever the cost” – support for partial unemployment and exceptional aid paid to the poorest. In addition to a decline in unemployment, he particularly welcomed at the beginning of November a provisional estimate from INSEE, which shows that the poverty rate remained stable in 2020, contrary to the feared explosion. What does not prevent that “Some poverty situations have worsened thanks to the crisis”, according to the statistical institute.

The associative sector insists on this risk of dropping out of the poorest. Especially since “The situation is worsening with the rise in energy prices: to pay the bills, trade-offs are often made to the detriment of food”, recalls Mr. Douret.

Last week, the Catholic Aid has sounded the alarm in a report according to which “Nearly 10% of the population” is forced to resort to food aid. Between 5 and 7 million people benefited from this aid in 2020, compared to 5.5 million in 2017.

The Federation of Food Banks, which organizes its large national fundraising over three days from November 26 to 28, is also concerned about “The constant increase in the number” of its beneficiaries, which grew by 6% in 2020 and continues to increase this year.

“Exceptional generosity” of the French

Through the various confinements, the isolation of the most precarious has further accentuated. In an attempt to curb this phenomenon, the Restos du cœur are trying to find all those who do not dare to go to their premises, or do not have the means to do so. The association has thus launched itinerant centers in rural areas: it hopes to double their number and reach 60 mobile services of this type in the coming months. Its street food distributions have also increased by 25% over the past two years.

Eggs, milk, meat… It also tries to obtain many products in short circuit to improve the quality of the baskets distributed. To do this, she calls for an improvement in the management of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, which finances one in four meals at Restaurants. “There are problems with canned vegetables, especially green beans, because there is no service provider who responds to calls for tenders organized by the State to supply these products”, regrets Mr. Douret.

Faced with growing inequalities, the French “Show exceptional generosity, which we will still need”, breathes the associative leader. The year 2020 was marked by a record of donations to associations, according to the France generosity barometer.

This outpouring of solidarity shows that “The fight against precariousness is a priority for French people”, according to him. “However, we do not see it enough in the programs of the various presidential candidates”, he laments.