After the Restos du Cœur, the French Red Cross also appealed for help on Monday: the association says it is facing financial difficulties due to a sharp rise in its operating costs and an influx of requests for help. “The number of people we support is increasing very significantly,” said Nathalie Smirnov, director general of the French Red Cross.
Requests for aid increased by 7% in the first half, compared to the same period last year. And 2022 was also marked by a jump in requests (22%) compared to the previous year. “We are also facing an increase of 45 million euros in our energy costs, despite the aid schemes put in place by the State,” she added. “The French Red Cross has a deficit of 25 million euros that we cannot make up for on energy”.
Result: Overall, the association expects a deficit of between 45 and 50 million euros this year. “We solemnly appeal to the generosity of businesses and public authorities to help us get through this special year,” said the general manager of the association created in 1864. Last year, she had an operating budget of 1 .7 billion euros, including 1.5 billion devoted to the management of more than 600 establishments and health, social and medico-social services.
About 200 million euros are dedicated to the social action carried out by its volunteers, such as food aid schemes. Half of the sum comes from donations and the other half comes from the activities of the association which generate income (training, first aid station service during events). This appeal comes after the one launched on Sunday by the Restos du Cœur, forced to reduce the number of beneficiaries this winter due to financial difficulties. The association, which needs 35 million euros to end the year in balance, launched an appeal for help to which the government and companies responded in the process. The executive has promised state aid of 15 million euros, and the family of Bernard Arnault, owner of the world number one in luxury LVMH, 10 million.
