National food bank collection "is off to a good start"

REPORTAGE

Ravioli, tuna, pasta, cereals, beans, rice, chocolate ... The network of food banks launched Friday the national collection for the last weekend of November, crucial to replenish stocks cut by the increased demand for food aid due to the coronavirus crisis.

Not to mention that the economic shock has plunged a million additional French people into poverty, according to some associations.

But at the Parisian supermarket to which Europe 1 visited, donations are going well.

"It starts very well, we are at more than 50% compared to last year", confirms Vincent, red vest of the volunteers on his back. 

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"This year it has a special resonance"

"Friday is a big day for the food drive, and we're off to a good start."

While it is currently impossible to know whether the generosity observed in this supermarket is a national trend, donors seem to have realized the situation.

"I'm going to give a little more, this year it has a particular resonance", estimates Aurélie.

"We know that poverty is exploding and we can see that in associations, there are more and more beneficiaries."

So while waiting for the accounts on Monday morning, the general manager of the food bank network, Laurence Champier, has only one message to convey: "Give! Solidarity is what must remain of this crisis. It is there. We must all mobilize to come to the aid of the most vulnerable. " 

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Goal: 24 million meals

The traditional food bank collection, which takes place this year from November 27 to 29, allows the association to collect 24 million meals, or 11% of the association's stocks.

The rest comes from donations from supermarkets, the food industry and state and European funds.

According to the first figures of a study by the association, "34% of beneficiaries have been for less than 6 months". 

To face this increase, the association even hopes to exceed this threshold of 24 million meals. 

How to make a donation ?

In addition to the traditional hand-to-hand donation at the supermarket outlet, it is possible to offer pre-filled bags, scan 'meal vouchers' at the checkout, or give directly via the monpaniersolidaire.org platform.

The site put online last Friday is open until December 20.

The network is primarily looking for canned vegetables, ready meals, canned fish and meat, pulses, starches, oils.