The boxes are piled up in the small room lent by the town hall. Since Friday, November 8, Chalon residents can drop off donations at a collection point at Chalon sur Saône town hall. Diapers, soaps, disinfectants… The objective is to collect basic necessities for those affected by the deadly floods in the Valencia region at the end of October. The initiative was launched by Benjamin Fuet, a Chalonnais caterer from Llombai, a small village about twenty minutes from the city of Valencia, also affected by the floods.
A surge of generosity
With his business, Casa Valenciana, Benjamin Fuet highlights Hispanic culture all year round, particularly that of Valencia, land of paella. At the time of the floods, many people turned to him, wanting to help. “One fine morning I see that lots of people have tagged me on Facebook. They all wanted to donate for Valencia but there was still no collection “, explains Benjamin Fuet.
The Chalonnais therefore decides to take matters in hand and operates its network in Spain to identify the products that the victims need most. The donations will then be transported to Llombai, Benjamin’s village. “It will serve as a platform to collect aid and then redistribute everything to the affected people.“Helping the victims of these floods was obvious to him.” Spain is my second life, I have my family there, friends.”
Flora Granchette
“It could happen to us too.”
Many of them come to drop off bags full of linen or food like Antonio, originally from Aragon, in the north of the peninsula. “We've never seen anything like this, it's horrible. It was important for me to give, I have a lot of friends in the Valencia region.“Future Spanish teacher, Léna came to donate diapers and sanitary napkins. During her studies, she had the chance to live for a year in Spain thanks to the Erasmus program and to visit the province of Valencia in particular. social networks that she discovers the extent of the floods.There have been so many deaths, it can happen anywhere. We are safe nowhere.“
The objective for Benjamin Fuet is to collect at least thirty pallets filled with donations as quickly as possible. A threshold which will allow it to send a first truck to Valencia. And the Chalonnais will be part of the trip! “I want to distribute what we have collected directly to the Spanish. Valencia is a little corner of paradise. People there live in hell. We need to make things happen.”
If you cannot drop off donations at the Chalon town hall collection point, a new location is open from Sunday November 10 in the Champ Chassy activity zone in Chatenoy-en-Bresse at the Netto store. For more information or if you want to become a volunteer you can contact Benjamin Fuet.
