The reaction was not long in coming. After the cry of alarm launched by the president of Restos du Coeur on Sunday, the Minister of Solidarity Aurore Bergé announced the same evening additional aid of 15 million euros from the State. “It’s far below, (…) it will take a lot more”, however reacted the spokesperson for the association Monday morning on France Info, while acknowledging that “it’s a good thing”. Yves Mérillon also regretted an announcement effect on the part of the government: “Of these 15 million, there are 10 who were already in the pipe, so the real increase is 5 million”.
The representative of the association confirmed that the additional needs of the Restos du Coeur for the current year alone amounted to 35 million euros. “It becomes untenable”, hammered Yves Mérillon. The number of meals served jumped by 30 million compared to 2022, from 140 million to 170 million. “What is needed is to tackle the massive influx of people for almost a year”, launched the association towards the public authorities, calling for “Structural measures” against poverty.
Yves Mérillon insisted that “for the first time” since the birth of the association in 1985, Restos du Coeur volunteers will have to refuse individuals whose income level exceeds a certain threshold. That’s not all: food endowments will decrease. “It’s unbearable,” said the spokesperson, who said that this policy would come into effect from November.
The association founded by Coluche suffered the full force of inflation. On the one hand, the number of beneficiaries increases considerably due to soaring prices; on the other hand, the supply of foodstuffs is complicated by the fact that they are more expensive. “If nothing is done, we could have to close within three years,” said the president of Restos du Coeur on Sunday. In addition to the state, the association received help from “at least two” distributors on Monday morning: Carrefour and Intermarchés. “This is very good news, it has to continue” welcomed Yves Mérillon.