There are tens of thousands of volunteers across the country, and many are retired.

However, with the Covid-19 crisis, seniors have withdrawn from their associative activities out of safety for their health.

And since then, the arms are missing.

But without a vaccine, it's impossible for them to come back.

REPORTAGE

The possibility of being vaccinated against Covid-19 is already open for caregivers, firefighters or even home helpers.

Only, one category of French seems to have been forgotten, and its role is however not the least in the social crisis: the volunteers of associations helping people in difficulty. 

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"It's very tight"

There are tens of thousands in the country, many of them retired.

Faced with this observation, since the start of the pandemic, associations have had to completely review their organization.

Like the Food Bank of Paris-Ile-de-France, which itself supplies numerous associations.

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"There are pasta, rice, canned food, baby products ...", points out Nicole, who has no shortage of products for her weekly supplies.

What she lacks above all, is arm for her association Bouche & Coeur, based in Guyancourt.

Since the start of the year, she has 25 new families to help, and still very few volunteers: “It's very tight. I always 'shoot' the same 2-3, but it's hard for them. I'm there all the time. I do the shopping, I do the housework, I do everything. It's exhausting, "admits the association. 

The need to vaccinate volunteers

In food banks, three out of five volunteers are over 65 years old.

And with the coronavirus, most of them have stepped back, for safety.

"Roll on the vaccine", impatiently Stéphane, manager of the Arcueil warehouse.

"Compared to the very beginning of the pandemic, I have lost almost all of my volunteers, so if they could be vaccinated to come back. Because we really feel that it is their will."

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Despite everything, while waiting for the return of the historic volunteers, the association was able to count on new recruits: students, the unemployed ... As a result, Pierre, 88, is the dean of the assembly.

And he is not worried so far: "I am careful and I will be vaccinated soon", he explains.

He has an appointment in a week and a half.

But for the others, we will have to wait.