This Gironde association organizes marauding in the vineyards for the homeless

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The “Envole Toit Sud-Gironde” association of Langon (Gironde) organizes evening solidarity maraudes four times a week to help the homeless.

“I have been interested in the homeless for a long time. It shocks me that there are people who don’t have housing,” says Elsa Laborde. A diploma obtained in 2007, this musician, under the name of La Demoiz'Aile, became a social worker in 2009 at the hospital of Cadillac. The one who lived Bordeaux then in the Landes discover the South-Gironde.

In trucks, squats

She quickly noticed that “there are many homeless people. Great poverty is less visible in rural areas than in the city, but it exists! They are less visible than in Bordeaux because they are in abandoned vineyard fieldsin forests, in parking lots at night, in trucks, in squats or in tents. »

Great poverty is less visible in rural areas than in the city, but it exists!

She does research and realizes that there are not many solutions found for the homeless and that there is no emergency center.

After participating in the adventure of hosting the La Ferme des Lilas association, Elsa decided to create a new association.

Catherine Baudry, communications manager and “godmother” of the association, provides her valuable assistance asreal estate agent.

Elsa Laborde is also supported by residents of the municipalities of South-Gironde.

These 100% volunteer people go out to meet the homeless and discover that they need assistance. food aidthat many do not have papers, that they are afraid, that they are so ashamed that they do not dare to push open the doors of institutions.

Food donations, blankets, tents

The 40-year-old young woman created the association “ Envole Toit Sud-Gironde » on September 14, 2023.

The goal: to form a team of volunteers who organize solidarity maraudes to help poor people in the South-Gironde region, by distributing food donations, of the hygiene products, of the clothes, of the blankets, of the trying.

The association also offers support to find concrete solutions for people living outside in makeshift shelters, towards temporary accommodation and sustainable in the territory. And also help with health procedures by creating links with hospital services.

Four raids per week

The raids are organized from Wednesday to Saturdayfour times a week, always in the evening between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The food parcels are made up of foodstuffs collected from Aldi and Biocoop stores.

The crates are also filled with vegetables from solidarity vegetable garden (permaculture) which Hubert takes care of.

Associations Red Cross, Popular Relief and even some town halls make their contribution as well as the Convergence Garonne community of communes.

Do not store anything. And sort for people who can cook with a stove, while still providing dishes for other people. Twice a week, volunteers cook. The packages are then brought to people who kindly request them.

The association welcomes 40 people per month. 100 people have been supported since the launch of the solidarity adventure.

A need for volunteers

The dynamic association has two great projects for this end of the year.

A lottery Mazèreson November 10, 2024, was a big success with great prizes offered by merchants.

The association prepares a big “Festive and united” meal on Saturday, December 28, offered to volunteers and those supported, with the help of the “La Bulle” association in Loupiac.

To realize all the projects scheduled for 2025, the association is looking for volunteers.

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