Romain Colucci, son of Coluche, and Patrice Blanc, president of Restos du Coeur, welcomed on Saturday Europe 1 the maintenance of the national collection of the organization this weekend. Despite the particular context linked to the coronavirus, donations have poured in and should be almost as large as last year.

INTERVIEW

"I did not feel psychosis." Romain Colucci, son of Coluche who is now one of the 73,000 volunteers at Restos du Coeur launched by his father, is in the field this weekend. And for good reason, the association organizes in stores its large national collection which will be used to serve meals and provide hygiene products to the most disadvantaged during the summer. While the coronavirus epidemic is in everyone's mind, the operation has so far gone well, he explained on Europe 1 with Patrice Blanc, the president of "Restos".

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"We had fears," admitted the latter. Even if 7,000 stores were mobilized, the collection could not be organized in four departments. But for the rest, "the lifts are rather optimistic" and the French responded to the call. "Last year, we came close to 9,000 tonnes" of donated products, says Patrice Blanc. "I'm not sure we will reach them but we shouldn't be far away."

"Life goes on and people need us"

This equates to 9 million meals. Not to mention non-food items, in particular body care products or those for babies, such as diapers, which Restos du Coeur strongly encourages to donate.

"It was good that we maintained this collection," says Romain Colucci, who recalls that it is also possible to buy the CD or DVD of Les Enfoirés, the profits of which will be donated to the association. "Each CD, each DVD bought, is 17 meals offered at Restos du Coeur. Everyone lives in this strange atmosphere at the moment but we mustn't. Life goes on and people need us. not hesitate. " For French people who do not go out shopping, it is still possible to make donations online.