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Editorial La Roche-sur-Yon
Published on
Dec 2 2024 at 4:50 p.m.
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It is in December 2021 that the Popular Relief found refuge in rented premises at the Décofip paint store, located at the end of rue René-Coty. In fact, the La Roche-sur-Yon branch had to leave the warehouse it previously occupied, rue Paul-Emile Victor, due to problems with waterproofing, compliance with standards and accessibility, making it unworthy welcoming beneficiaries.
Three years later, the volunteers are again in the obligation to look for another place to continue their missions, the current owner wishing to recover his premises in order to develop his activity.
The challenge lies in the difficulty of find a place large enough, accessible and affordable to allow Secours Populaire to continue all its actionswhich are numerous: food aid, changing rooms, solidarity space, holiday assistance, leisure outings and reception desks for access to rights.4
1100 people welcomed each year
The national charity is present on eleven branches in Vendée. That of La Roche-sur-Yon is the largest, with around twenty volunteers and 1,100 people welcomed each year. “Per week, around 400 people benefit from food aid,” says Virginie Douteau, head of the Yonnais branch.
“Don’t leave people without a solution”
It underlines the alarming observation of poverty which is becoming entrenched and rejuvenating, with more and more poor workers and young people without resources finding themselves on the streets. “We also respond to emergencies with around ten food packages per week. But we always have to do it on a case by case basis. For example, you cannot give pasta to someone who cannot cook it. »
As the end of the lease approaches in December 2024, Virginie Douteau and Catherine Labello, responsible for food aid, are concerned. “We cannot leave people without solutions. »
Emergency
Faced with this emergencyboth, as well as the departmental director of Secours Populaire, Annick Wemeaux, launched an appeal for help. They are looking for a new space to be able to continue their actions without interruption and thus support those who need it most. “Our current owner is understanding and will not kick us out from January 2025. But it is urgent to find a solution, both for him and for us. »
The Secours Populaire association leaders hope that this appeal will quickly find an echo.
Contact: Secours populaire 95 rue René-Cotty in La Roche-sur-Yon, 06 02 04 88 74.
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