Food bank photo Illustration -

C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes

  • Nearly 200 stores and 5,000 volunteers are mobilized in the department for the national collection of food banks, which takes place until Sunday.

  • “This year, collection is vital,” warns Gérard Gros, president of the Bouches-du-Rhône food bank.

  • The goal is to collect 350,000 tonnes of donations, the equivalent of 700,000 meals.

In the premises of the Bouches-du-Rhône food bank, it is the sacred union for the launch of the annual food collection campaign.

"Give more than last year, I appeal to all Marseillais", launches the mayor of Marseille Michèle Rubirola, after noting that "the coronavirus epidemic has painfully increased the number of people victims of the great poverty ”.

“These three days are fundamental, they will determine the distribution of donations to the most vulnerable people, engages Martine Vassal (LR), the president of the departmental council.

This year is special, we have never seen so many people in precariousness.

"

“This year, fundraising is not only essential, it is vital.

It is crucial for us to get 300 [tonnes of food], and [we] hope for 350 tonnes, ”says Gérard Gros, president of the Bouches-du-Rhône food bank.

Last year, 310 tons of food and hygiene donations were collected locally, the equivalent of 620,000 meals for 100,000 people helped.

The goal this time is to reach the equivalent of 700,000 meals.

The Food Bank, which then redistributes donations to some 180 local associations, has already observed the consequences of the health crisis.

“During the first confinement, we distributed the equivalent of 200,000 meals per week, instead of 130,000 traditionally, says Gérard Gros.

At the end of December, we will probably reach the same figure for this second confinement.

"

Florian and Pauline, in civic service, are mobilizing in Marseille for the 2020 food bank campaign.

- C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes

“There is no Black Friday, that helps.

"

Obama cap on his head, orange waistcoat required, Franck is a veteran of the food bank.

He is a driver and tours the supermarkets year round to collect donations.

“We arrive here, we unload, we sort to then redistribute to associations.

“At his side, Claude took the temperature this Friday morning on the ground.

“It worked well, there is no Black Friday, that helps.

"

During a weekend, many occasional volunteers take part in the operation: there are nearly 5,000 to cover 200 stores in Bouches-du-Rhône.

A long-standing partner, the Unis-Cité association sent 120 young people to civic service on the ground in Marseille for the weekend.

“And this year, a team of eight people will help with the warehouse all year round,” says Margot Schaaff, local coordinator of the association.

Florian, 22, is one of these young people.

"I was in a family where we didn't have the money all the time to finish the month, so that touches me", he confides, before adding: "Any donation, even the equivalent of one euro is still important.

Pauline, 18 years old and engaged in civic service since the end of October, started the day on Friday at Lidl in Bonneveine.

In college, she has already participated in these collections.

“But now, to be part of this team, it makes even more sense, it's a great goal.

"Even if it's just a bunch, it's important," she urges, while understanding very well the person who told her "must already feed her".

For Pauline, nothing worse in the end than ignorance.

"There are those who accept that we explain to them, it's a good start," she smiles.

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  • Confinement

  • Poverty

  • Marseilles

  • food Bank

  • Solidarity

  • Society