The Restos du Coeur de Millau welcome more and more retirees and young people

L'entrée de l'établissement se veut discrète pour préserver l'intimité des bénéficiaires. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

Les bénévoles des Restos du Coeur constatent une évolution du public bénéficiaire.

Thursday, at the beginning of the afternoon, in a light rain, there are around fifteen of them waiting for their turn at the entrance to Restos du Coeur, 20 rue of the Saunerie. As the minutes pass, new arrivals are added to the queue. Having become the weekly meeting place for some, this moment allows them to restock on basic necessities, but also to exchange.

In the queue, it's not silent. The atmosphere is not gloomy, despite the inclement weather. The beneficiaries share a few laughs, but also some banalities. In hand, their small shopping bag or their trolley, ready to use, just like when you go to the supermarket. Except that there, it's free for them.

About fifty volunteers

To keep the store running, around fifty volunteers ensure collections and distributions, but also all technical and practical aspects of the association's actions. Twice a year, a collection is organized. "The first will take place on the 1st weekend of March, it's a national collection. The second will take place in November, it is organized on a departmental scale", explains Jean-Luc, a volunteer for around 4 years.

On distribution days, there need to be around fifteen of them to ensure reception of the goods, distribution, reception, flow and distribution of hot drinks. An entire, precise organization that allows us to meet the needs of 330 families.

Breads, dairy products, baby products…

The beneficiaries, equipped with a card obtained during their registration, come once a week to obtain what they need, depending on the number of people in the household. First, a passage through reception where two volunteers note in software the arrival of the beneficiary. A way, too, of counting stocks. Following, they go to the entrance, and wait to be called, depending on the meeting time that has been set. To wait, hot drinks.

Inside, several poles manned by volunteers. Bread, dairy products, baby products… basic necessities from various donations are redistributed to those in need.

Traveling tours

For more than two weeks, the Restos du Coeur de Millau association has been organizing traveling tours whether in Le Larzac or La Cavalerie. A tour which, one week travels to one of these areas, and the following week to the other in order to replenish resources for the beneficiaries for whom, sometimes, moving is a real obstacle course. "This is a departmental initiative formulated by Sud-Aveyron. There has real precariousness in the agricultural world and among neo-rural residents", insists Jean-Luc.

"With these itinerant tours, we facilitate beneficiaries who are sometimes dependent on other people to get to Millau. The truck, unmarked, makes this help more discreet", explains Éliette.

 

"More and more young people and retirees"

The public that the association welcomes has evolved in recent years. Éliette, a volunteer for around ten years, confirms this. "We have more and more retirees and young retirees who are pushing through the doors of Restaurants. And we know how difficult it is for older people to sometimes ask for help. But this year, some took the plunge because it was necessary."

Hubert, a volunteer for a dozen years, has recently noticed the arrival of a young audience. "We see more and more young people who are on RSA or unemployed. But also single people and that's something new." 

"Then we also have young single women, often with 2 children, unemployed, who come to the Restaurants" , depicts Jean-Luc. "It's a vicious circle for these women, because there are real custody problems. They therefore stay at home for their children, and cannot work", adds Éliette.

This year again, the Restos du Coeur association has noted an increase in requests. In Millau, Jean-Luc, Éliette and Hubert remind us that all little hands are essential, whether for occasional or regular help.

Distributions and registrations on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m./1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., 20 rue de la Saunerie. I subscribe to read more