“A whole package has been put in place to serve early childhood”: how the Restos du Cœur in Villeneuve-sur-Lot are preparing for the new winter campaign

“For a week and the opening of the 40th winter campaign of Restos du Cœur, 16 of our volunteers trained in welcoming and registering families have individually received 160 families” begins the trio at the head of the reception center from Restos de Villeneuve, Annie Rabot, Christine Maribas and Arnaud Caby. “And it’s true that since we moved into our new premises on rue de Sarrette, life has changed for everyone, the volunteers as well as the people and families we welcome. And there are 60 volunteers.”

It must be said that during all the years that the association spent in the premises on rue du Pesquié, there was a shortage of space. “We can now offer many activities. Because we must not forget that the Restos du Cœur is not just food aid. It is a set of services that we offer to those welcomed, help legal to the job search through cooking classes or changing rooms provided. Our missions are numerous.

A big effort for the benefit of early childhood and single-parent families

In particular the great cause highlighted during this winter campaign at the national level. “This winter, we are going to focus as much as possible on our support efforts for early childhood, between zero and three years, during the first 1,000 days of the child's life. Some of our volunteers are trained to welcome these single-parent families with a young child And we welcome all volunteers who are likely to be interested in this type of support, as in our sectors of activity elsewhere.

Providing diapers, milk, food, clothes is good. “But this is not our only action, far from it. We are also here and above all to give advice, to learn certain simple gestures that are not necessarily mastered, also to learn to cook simple things. It's a whole package in the early childhood service which is thus set up And the volunteers who take care of it are all trained internally, by other volunteers whose function is All our volunteers, whatever their sectors of activity. interventions, are also trained internally by our volunteers”.

“Last year, 38 of our welcome found employment”

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, there are many people passing through the Restos du Cœur premises. “These are the days of distribution of food aid, but also the days when all our services are open. Our work is not limited to this food aid, even if it is essential. We also provide aid with a view to return to employment in collaboration with France Travail which comes every week to meet job seekers registered with us. We offer to help them write their CV, we simulate job interviews, we help them. to regain confidence in them. We will even. even giving them tips on how to dress during interviews to make the best impression When it comes to training, we also help them find funding We do everything that the departments involved don't have. always have time to support them. We are there to support these institutions, with our resources, with our volunteers. Last year, 38 people we welcomed found employment. It’s a great reward for us. Especially when people who have started life again and who can no longer benefit from our help engage with us as volunteers. It’s a bit of our pride to get to this point.”

If during the previous winter campaign, the Villeneuvois reception center, also hit by the financial crisis which hit the Restaurants, could only serve 3,000 meals per week, “we expect to serve 4,000 to 4,500 This winter, you know, we only have three sources of supply: a third of what we distribute, we bought it, another third comes from European funds and the last third from donations. last year's crisis, we had to buy 40% more food products. The situation is much better this year. We are even going to organize a big lottery on November 30 at the Cercle Villeneuvois. So, don’t hesitate to come and help us, we need everyone.”