Les Restos du Cœur are launching a “capital” food drive this Friday

A “capital” collection, after the cry of alarm at the end of last year. Les Restos du Cœur is starting its annual collection of food donations from the general public this Friday, with the aim of collecting 9,000 tonnes of donations. From Friday to Sunday, 80,000 volunteers will be present in 7,500 supermarkets throughout France to collect food donations and hygiene products from individuals who are shopping.

This collection is of “capital” importance for the operation of Restos du Cœur, its president, Patrice Douret, told AFP. In three days, the association founded by Coluche in 1985 collects 12% of the in-kind donations it receives in a year. In recent years, the quantity collected has remained “rather stable”. In addition to this large volume, this collection makes it possible to “ensure the balance and diversity” of the meals distributed free of charge to beneficiaries, thanks to the wide variety of products collected. Last year, the Restos du Cœur, which provides 35% of food aid in France, welcomed 1.3 million people.

This influx put the association in difficulty, both logistically and financially. It has therefore resigned itself to reducing the number of its beneficiaries this winter, by lowering the income scales which allow them to benefit from food aid. “So far we have had to turn away just over 110,000 people, but this is not a definitive number, we continue to have a wave of people coming forward to register and more refuse some,” says Patrice Douret.

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Uncertainty remains over the total number of people welcomed and refused during this winter campaign which lasts until the end of April. “Despite everything, we will remain at a very high level of number of meals distributed, very far from what we experienced two years ago,” explains the president. It estimates that between 165 and 168 million meals will be distributed this year, compared to 171 million in 2023 and 142 million in 2022.

At a time when inflation is slowing but food and energy prices remain at high levels, Patrice Douret hardly expects the situation to improve: “National structural measures must be taken to combat this poverty at the roots.” From a financial point of view, the situation seems to have improved for the Restos du Cœur, who hope that their deficit will be covered this year. “We saved the furniture for 2024 but nothing is won because we must remain present to respond to people’s difficulties,” underlines Patrice Douret.

Throughout France, donations collected in stores will be sent to a Restos du Cœur departmental warehouse to be sorted according to the type of product and the expiration date. Volunteers will then replenish various pallets to meet the needs of local food distribution centers. “Despite inflation, people have not abandoned us: last year, we received 8,700 tonnes of donations and we hope to reach 9,000 tonnes this year,” Brigitte Lefrançois, manager, told AFP. of the association's food center.