Stones of Hope, the solidarity restaurant which advocates social diversity in Cahors

There is an uproar in the premises, at 354 rue Nationale, in Cahors. Thursday May 2, 2024, on the eve of the opening of the Pierres d’Espoir solidarity canteen, a small team of volunteers are racking their brains to find, using the fruits and vegetables of the day, what menu they will offer during the official opening, Friday May 3.

The excitement is at its height. Everyone has their own little recipe, one found on the internet or one that will have to be invented. Beyond the menu to be put in place, the volunteers, the members of the association and the president Arève Atchikguezian are feverish, but nevertheless display an infectious enthusiasm.

Indeed, this “great human adventure” that they are launching for the first time in Cahors, what enriching experience will it bring them? The goal of this solidarity canteen: to promote social diversity while allowing everyone to enjoy a balanced menu. An approximate starting price is announced, but everyone can choose to pay the price, or more, or for those who can’t, the meal remains free. Not a question of exclusion, but rather of inclusion.

In the room, a large table can accommodate up to 30 place settings.

The beginnings

It is a citizen prize awarded by the town of Cahors which contributed, in part, to fitting out the premises. As a reminder, the building belongs to the association which includes 5 social housing units with a sort of living room on the ground floor, where the solidarity canteen is located for one morning per week.

Following the association’s 40th anniversary in 2023, vocations were born. Many volunteers spontaneously joined the association, and people also proposed projects (setting up a coffee shop, wellness treatments, reading evenings, films, karaoke, etc.). Ideas are not lacking.

The social bond is the guiding idea of ​​this association which really wishes to give it even more scope.

“Today, it is no longer a neighborhood association, as when it began in 1983, but an association carrying out several projects, part of a city” underlines the president who has no shortage of anecdotes to tell. “There is a great history for our association. We had a visit from a young sociologist who worked on planned housing operations. He came across, by chance, in the town hall archives, on the association’s newspapers published from 1983-1985. He sought to meet us because he found that we had a gold mine of exciting stories to highlight.” We understand that this place is imbued with a memory representative of an entire era of which the stones are fervent guardians.

Solidarity canteen

“This associative and supportive canteen is an old idea which dates back to its creation in 1983. This matrimonial association made up of women was not only trying to defend them against possible expulsion, they met around cosmopolitan cuisine (couscous , paella…) and whatever the country, the meal has a whole symbolism of friendly and cultural sharing. The canteen project really came about during Covid. We thought about how to develop the association and this resulted in two ideas: the restoration project and the writing of a profession of faith,” recalls Arève Atchikguezian.

A volunteer adds “a meal is what brings people together. It brings people together, it’s very friendly.”

“At the end of 2022, we submitted our file to Cahors town hall as part of a call for citizen projects. We received €16,340, which allowed us to bring the premises up to standard to receive the public. Then, we had to request approval, bring the rooms and kitchen up to standard, follow hygiene training…” specifies the treasurer of the Benjamine association.

Despite this help, Pierre d’Espoir had to request an additional loan.

“It’s really a gigantic human adventure that’s happening right now. Moreover, most of the volunteers mobilized around the solidarity canteen did not know each other before” relates Arève Atchikguezian with a big smile.

Most fruits, vegetables, eggs and dairy products are donated by supermarkets or Biocoop. Dry goods should come from the Food Bank. For now, Pierre d’Espoir is building a network with other charitable associations, “but it’s a work in progress” underlines the president.

At the opening

After several trial runs to be prepared for any eventuality, the volunteer cooks, waiters and others were on duty on Friday May 3. And word of mouth worked wonderfully. The solidarity canteen is full. The team even had to turn away customers.

The canteen will be open on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., but not necessarily every week.

Now that the canteen is launched, the association is actively seeking to expand the team of volunteers. The more people there are, the more the restaurant can be open. And then, it’s also a place where cooks can give free rein to their inspiration.

“What is happening to us is extraordinary. There are plenty of people who want to get involved in different projects. In our current world where we don’t really know where we are going, it feels good to find a place like we offer that includes certain values” concludes Arève Atchikguezian.

Marie-Françoise PLAGÈS

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon -.