The “Blendecques disaster victims” association has collected 15,000 euros which it will distribute to those affected by the floods of autumn 2023. The sums received will be spent in the town's businesses. Something to brighten up the end-of-year celebrations as residents shiver as winter approaches.
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“Psychosis is here, people are panicking“. One year after the terrible floods which submerged Pas-de-Calais, David Capitaine, vice-president of the “Blendecques Sinistrés” association can only see to what extent they have marked the inhabitants of Blendecques.
On the eve of the 2024 end-of-year celebrations, the association is offering the victims of this town located to the south of Saint-Omer vouchers which will try as best they can to put a smile back on their faces. Thanks to the multiple donations that the association receives, David Capitaine proudly announced that he could offer them 15 000 eurosto be used by 24 merchants in the town.
The streets of Blendecques flooded, November 2023.
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© FTV
This type of operation is not a first for David Capitaine. Since the first floods which hit Blendecques in 2002, he has been helping all the victims with the association. Bailing, sheltering, putting down sandbags, filling out administrative papers… in more than 20 years, this teacher has become a real Swiss army knife in the event of a flood.
Each time, the association offered financial assistance to the victims. David Captain remembers, “we already did it in 2002, and more recently in May 2024 when we distributed 36,000 euros. The money comes from donations from individuals, municipalities, but also from concerts in churches or meals.“
Emergency response in Blendecques.
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© FTV
This generosity once again allowed the association to collect 15 000 euros, a sufficient sum to hope to donate vouchers to all the victims of Blendecquois at the end of 2024. “In the end, we had this amount of money, and we realized that the victims needed to be helped, as well as the traders, because since then people have been spending less or leaving the town. Finally, we asked ourselves: « What can we do for them? »“
But how does it work? A letter was distributed to all mailboxes in the municipality, so that all victims could fill out a reply coupon. While many of them are still overwhelmed by the “administrative paperwork“imposed by their insurers, David Capitaine wanted the registration to be “as simple as possible“.
These 15,000 euros will be distributed in ten-euro coupons to all those who come forward to have them. Blendecquois residents have until November 30 to return their coupon. Then, the 15,000 euros will be distributed among all the beneficiaries. A nice gift for Christmas.
Example of voucher used during the May 2024 campaign.
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© Blendecques disaster victims
On the merchant side, 24 are officially partners of the offer. This ephemeral payment method constitutes a small administrative supplement for them, which should however redirect customers to their shops. “In front of the baker's, there was a private school. Since the floods, she has gone outside the town, obviously, that's 100 fewer customers per day“, deplores David Capitaine.
Faced with this outpouring of generosity, “people say thank you“continues the vice-president of “Blendecques Sinistrés”.We don't save them, we don't give them a fortune, but it's a huge surge of solidarity. Blendecquois people feel helped by people who try to bring positivity into their lives“.
The vouchers will be distributed to disaster victims between December 13 and 15, they will have until January 15 to use them. For those who would like to get closer to the “Blendecques disaster” association, it is possible to contact them here.
