The Restos du Cœur du Calvados set out for their fortieth campaign this Tuesday. The association which helps the most deprived has presented its battle plan for this new season. In the Calvados department, almost 8,000 people are registered and 18,000 meals were distributed every week during the last summer campaign.
For children under three years old
For this new campaign, the association intends to focus on the help it provides to babies, that is to say children under three years old. These babies very often come from the same type of family, notes Philippe Marie, a volunteer at Restos du Cœur in Calvados for twelve years, and former departmental director: “We mainly have single-parent families because of divorces. These are mainly women at 80% who, despite working, are included in the Restaurant scale since they do not earn enough to take care of the children in their care.”
“Food is very important”
200 babies are helped regularly in our department. This corresponds to 1,000 meals per week. Adapted dietary advice is also provided by the association. “Food is very important during the first months of life, because it is precisely there that there can be deficiencies. Hence the importance that babies, from a very young age, are very well accompanied by food”supports Corinne, also a volunteer.
Small pots, powdered milk or even fruits and vegetables are distributed in this way. The Restos du coeur du Calvados also offer small clothing and shoes. To better welcome babies with their families, reception areas with educational games and books will be reinforced in the coming months. All this to stem the phenomenon of social reproduction: “It takes six generations to escape poverty. This is unacceptable. We must ensure that the children in care today are not the poor adults of tomorrow.”.
