In financial difficulty, the Restos du Cœur have resigned themselves to reducing the number of beneficiaries of their food aid this winter, the association’s president said on Sunday. “Today, we are not strong enough to absorb the flow of people who need food aid,” explained Patrice Douret, president of the association created in 1985 by Coluche. “If nothing is done, we could have to close within three years”.
Les Restos du Cœur finds itself in the red due to the “very significant increase” in the number of people seeking help and an “increase in its operating costs”, due to inflation. Guest of the TF1 TV news on Sunday, Patrice Douret launched “an appeal to the political and economic forces of our country” for the “launch of a food emergency plan”. “We are not heard enough or taken seriously (…) but the dikes are giving way,” declared the association leader on TF1.
The association has already welcomed 1.3 million people in 2023, compared to 1.1 million for the whole of last year. And in recent months, its budget for food purchases, then redistributed free of charge to beneficiaries, has “doubled”. Faced with this “extremely complex” situation, the Restos du Cœur have decided to reduce their number of beneficiaries. “It’s really heartbreaking, but we’re going to have to massively say no to people we could have taken in before inflation and we’re going to have to reduce the amount of what we give to people who fit our criteria,” detailed Patrice Douret. He estimates that around 150,000 people will have to be turned away.
The association, which expects to serve 170 million meals this year compared to 140 million in 2022, provides regular assistance to people in need, depending on their remaining life. Its amount to be eligible will be revised downwards, indicated Patrice Douret, without giving precise figures. Despite this measure, the association needs an additional 35 million euros to end the year in balance. “We are calling for a massive mobilization of the political and economic forces of this country to help us reach this milestone,” declared Patrice Douret, who also expressed his anger. “We have been alerting the government about this situation for months, we have not been heard enough.”
The Restos du Cœur, which provide 35% of food aid in France, have an operating budget of around 200 million euros per year. Resources that come from private donors, companies as well as public aid from the State and the European Union. Sunday, the call of its president was relayed by the oppositions of left and right. On the side of LFI, the head of the deputies Mathilde Panot affirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that her party would file “an emergency food plan in the very next few days”. “And everywhere in France, the rebellious will organize food collections, the proceeds of which they will donate to humanitarian associations,” she added. “It is urgent to hear the call of @restosducoeur!”, Abounded the boss of the PS Olivier Faure.
On the right, the LR president of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand, agreed with Patrice Douret: “we need a food emergency plan!” “The Hauts-de-France Region will be there for the Restos du Coeur call”, he promised on the social network. On the RN side, the blame is placed on “those who have governed us for so long”: “Their responsibility is immense. Today they are shedding crocodile tears!”, Vice-President of the National Assembly Sébastien Chenu launched on X.
