In Nîmes, the Heatwave Plan distributes packages and creates links with isolated elderly people

Saisonniers étudiants, membres du CCAS et bénévoles de la banque alimentaire du Gard, dans les locaux du Marché gare. Midi Libre – Axel Dumond

Le CCAS et la banque alimentaire du Gard sont partenaires pour le Plan canicule, ce qui permet de veiller sur plus de 700 Nîmois. À domicile ou par téléphone, des étudiants aident les seniors vulnérables.

Helping isolated people during periods of high heat. This is the objective of the Gard Food Bank and the CCAS (Communal Social Action Center ) with the Heatwave Plan. This summer prevention plan has existed since 2011 in Nîmes.

Young people "interested in papets and mamets"

Around 200 beneficiaries, mainly elderly people, benefit from this aid which represents a total of three tonnes of goods. For this operation, fourteen students were hired this summer, from June at the end of August.

The Heatwave Plan operates "on a daily basis in the field with young people", explains Frédéric Pouget, volunteer at BA 30. Young people on fixed-term contracts“interested in the Papets and Mamets”.

Searching for people and needs

Identifying these isolated people is difficult.“We really have to go and find them”, says Catherine Jehanno, municipal councillor delegated to the elderly. Elderly people in difficulty, very dignified, are sometimes ashamed to come forward to ask for help. The CCAS will in particular "prospect through neighborhood committees", says its director, David Griffon.

To some of the people registered for the Heatwave Plan, two boys distribute ten-kilogram parcels to their homes every day. They deliver to between eight and ten people a day in Nîmes. The help provided goes beyond food. “We talk to them”, says Tom, a student, who creates intergenerational contacts.

In the field and by phone

“It also allows us to visit people's homes”, explains CCAS director David Griffon. Employees assess the situation of vulnerable people. If necessary, they can alert the family or the emergency services.

The other part of the seasonal workers calls isolated people. More than 700 people from Nîmes are registered as vulnerable. "We may be required to make home visits", specifies Manon, a student.

Morgane, by phone or on site, explains that "no judgments", in order to bring “only kindness”. This work “makes you mature”, she believes. “A very good experience”, summarizes Annelyse, 22, the oldest.

The Heatwave Plan is applied only to the city of Nîmes. The BA 30 would like to extend this system to the rest of the department.

“We are seriously lacking volunteers”

Volunteers are essential to the operation of the Gard food bank, which provides food to 91 local associations, or 13,000 meals per day.

The major national BA collection will take place on November 22, 23 and 24, in stores in Gard and throughout France. Last year, it mobilized about 1,000 volunteers.

There is a particular need on these three crucial days for food bank stocks. "We are seriously short of volunteers", says Joseph Pronesti, president of BA 30. Help is welcome, even for just a few hours. Contact: 04 66 29 56 42.

On October 19, an open day will be held at the BA 30 premises, at the Marché gare, to mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of the food banks.