Aid from the State, from the head of the LVMH group, as well as several other contributions from large-scale retail companies have recently offered a breath of fresh air to Restos du coeur, which is facing significant financial difficulties. However, small donors still support the various associations, rather discreetly and according to their means.
Behind the great media coverage which surrounded this collection of several million euros, there is an armada of small anonymous donors, sometimes without great means. These are French people who want to show generosity, even in times of inflation. “ It’s support, it’s mutual aid. If I can help other people, I’ll do it. These are not large sums, but each time, I give a little », testifies Eric, a teacher aged around forty, met in front of a shopping center in the Paris region.
According to this 50-year-old childminder, it is a duty to make donations to collectively support the most deprived: “ I believe we are all human beings. And, when there is someone in need, I believe it is our duty to support them as much as we can. »
Jacques, 60, makes donations to associations only during collection campaigns in department stores. “ When they are restaurants and when there are people asking for food, like for the Restos du coeur, I participate. For the moment, I am not donating to a humanitarian association. It’s better to give food than money, at least I know where it’s going “, he explains. No financial donations either for this 30-year-old computer scientist who prefers to express his generosity to the most deprived in other ways: “ I myself prefer to come into contact with these people and I go to see them very often. I ask them what they need and I give them what I can give them. I have more confidence in myself than in associations. »
“You have to help your neighbor, especially now”
Fatiha has been unemployed for some time, but the fifty-year-old has not forgotten her duty to help others. “ It’s essential because we need each other. Whatever we think, there are times when we can, and times when we can’t. But as soon as things get better, it will be a priority. You have to help your neighbor, especially now. »
Current time, marked in particular by inflation. But for this sixty-year-old, it is up to the State to help the French feed themselves: “ I donate for cancer for different things, but not for this. I think this is the role of the State. ” How ? This regular donor has his own little idea. “ Instead of tax exemption, we need from the start to have cheaper products with lower taxes, that would be more logical than writing checks to give to everyone and to people who do not have definitely need “, he says.
Les Restos du coeur have already distributed 170,000,000 meals in 2023, or 30,000,000 more than last year.
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