A solidarity grocery store opens in Meaux, a first for this NGO

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A great Christmas gift for Meaux families in financial difficulty. Saturday December 21, 2024, the NGO Dignité International, whose headquarters is based in Villenoy, inaugurated its very first solidarity grocery store in Meaux, 8 rue Georges Claude, close to the E.Leclerc hypermarket, with a first beneficiary.

Dignity International is a association with a social and humanitarian vocation which operates in more than twenty different countries with, among its fundamental principles, the preservation of “life and dignity”, the improvement of “the human condition and respect for fundamental rights”.

Products 70% cheaper

It is with this mission in mind that Ouahid Abassi, president of Dignité International, and his teams decided to open a solidarity grocery store “Dignity Market”. “We are attentive to situations of precariousness. You should know that this concerns 11 million people in France. And the town of Meaux is not spared. Inflation, increases in the cost of energy, Covid have had an impact on the purchasing power of families,” he explains.

After the rent, the food is the second largest expense homes. From this observation, it was therefore decided to offer a local and local solution.

His store is similar to a classic grocery store with several departments offering dry products such as pasta, but also drinks, bread, hygiene products and even fresh produce. Dignité International also takes care to offer some organic and short-circuit products. All sold at ultra-reduced prices.

“The beneficiary customers pay maximum 30% of the actual price », shows Ouahid Abassi, with a minimum reduction of 70%. For a product worth one euro, the customer will pay less than 30 euro cents. “They also choose what they want to buy. They do not receive a food parcel, we are not in the assistance system,” adds the president, the objective being to empower the publicreceived and “destigmatize these populations”.

As in any business, the customer-beneficiaries then move on to the caisse and pay.

Complete support

In addition to the grocery area, Dignité Market offers educational workshopsfor its beneficiaries, as a cooking workshop to teach families to make balanced and economical meals, while maintaining a healthy eating.They will be educated on anti-waste and waste reduction.

In the back room there is also a intergenerational spaceopen to all, even excluding beneficiaries. “We are fighting against the loneliness of seniors. They need contact and to create social bonds. Seniors can meet here, around tea or coffee, watch TV, or carry out administrative procedures,” continues Ouahid Abassi, who invites young people from Meaux to come and do activities with the seniors.

How to become a beneficiary?

This solidarity grocery store is aimed at families in financial difficulties . They must become beneficiaries of Dignity International. To do this, the NGO analyzes the profile of each family, starting with income which must amount to less than €10 per person per day.

But this is not the only criterion. The association also looks family and professional situation, cases of health, debt, etc. Families must also have a projectwhen coming to Dignité Market such as the need to repay debts, pay late bills, or buy a car, essential for getting around or finding a job.

“The beneficiaries are accompanied approximately 6 months . The aid is not sustainable, we help them so that they can get by,” explains Ouahid Abassi. “We don’t come here just because it’s not expensive,” adds Djilali Benaboura, director of Social Missions France at Dignité International.

They are chosen by the social services of the City of Meaux and the social workers of Dignité International.

The local social services have been informed of the opening of this solidarity grocery store and are invited to redirect families towards the Dignity Market. But homes can also turn directly to the NGO without going through social services. “Some people want to come without anyone knowing. »

The objective is to receive and follow 240 to 300 families per year. They can come once a week,according to a day fixed by the association, from Tuesday to Friday. “We can do it on Saturday morning if we have workers in financial difficulty. We adapt to our audience” adds Djilali Benaboura.

Dignity Market, 8 rue Georges Claude in Meaux. To make an appointment or for more information, call 09 56 75 99 76.

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