“All our activities are increasing”announces Arnaud Fritsch, director of the Caritas Alsace Charity Federation. For this major solidarity association, which helps more than 13,000 households in the region, the situation is harsh on November 14. Despite the unfailing commitment of 2,000 volunteers in 80 reception centers to help people out of precariousness, it continues to increase. “From 2022 to 2023, we have seen a 20% increase in the total amount of financial aid, the number of beneficiaries of solidarity grocery stores or the number of food packages distributed”continues Arnaud Fritsch.
The trend is confirmed in 2024. At the city center office, rue de l'Arc-en-ciel, Caritas gives 120 breakfasts per day on average this year, compared to 80 in 2023. And the association is increasingly observing more needs outside the cities, in Obernai, Masevaux, Colmar or even Altkirch. “The profiles are diverse. Often, they are isolated people who suffer from being far from services. They suffer from the fact that in the countryside, there is less talk about poverty. They ask us for help with gas or bills in particular”expose Arnaud Fritsch.
Poor workers at Caritas
In Marlenheim, Caritas helped 26 households with food or to pay energy bills in 2023. And from January to October 2024 alone, 42 households were supported in this same municipality. In Sarre-Union, the association distributed 1,770 euros in checks and vouchers in 2023. The following year, the value of aid paid in the municipality already reached 3,560 euros in September.
According to the association, around 20% of beneficiaries in the region earn between 800 and 1,200 euros per month, and 6% are paid more than 1,200 euros.
“For several years, we have seen poor workers arrive in our offices. This phenomenon is increasingrelate Arnaud Fritsch. Some people go without breakfast so their children can eat. They then come to pick it up from us, before going to work. »
Faced with these realities, the director of the Caritas Alsace Charity Federation insists on the positive impacts of his association's actions. “Often, we are a link that allows us to bounce back. Many need help for a few months. They can then regain their autonomy”explains Arnaud Fritsch. “ We must continue to do our part”breathes the director of Caritas Alsace. According to him, every year, people helped emerge from poverty. To illustrate his point, three former Caritas beneficiaries are present.
“It can happen to anyone”
Patrick, a truck driver by profession, suffered a stroke at the age of 58. After a year of sick leave, he was declared unfit to continue his activity. But his disability pension was processed in six months, during which he had no resources. “My life fell apart. We had big financial problems. When the rent, utilities, internet and telephone subscriptions were paid, we had nothing left to buy food”he says. Patricia, his wife, is there to support him.
Thanks to the Caritas solidarity grocery store in Guebwiller, Patrick and Patricia did not die permanently. They could buy the equivalent of 50 euros per week there for 5 euros. “We were able to eat”he breathes. But what would have happened if they didn't have this support? “Without Caritas, there would be many more people on the streets, that’s for sure”believes Patrick: “It’s really important to know this because it can happen to anyone to need associations. I worked for 37 years before my accident. »
More activities but not more resources
“The important thing is not to never fall, but to be able to get up again”agrees Arnaud Fritsch. From now on, Patrick and Patricia are volunteers for Caritas. They organize cooking workshops with foods offered by the association. They plan to help Guebwiller in the coming years.
Youla also takes the floor to testify to the help provided by Caritas. A Syrian political refugee, she found herself in Molsheim without resources because it took her time to find a job:
“I was a biology teacher in Syria. But my diploma was no longer valid in France. I had to learn the language. Fortunately Caritas was there. We were able to feed our two children with my husband. Now, I support students with disabilities (AESH, Editor's note) at the Molsheim nursery school. It is extremely important psychologically when we are lost like we were, to be helped by volunteers who smile at us and are kind to us. »
Caritas can count on a stable number of 2,000 volunteers and a budget of 5.5 million euros, while increasing its activity. “We are going to have to stabilize our financial aid. It will not be possible to increase them. And we are thinking about ways to lower our costs, by pooling activities in buildingsindicates the director. On the other hand, we will continue to increase food aid. » To maintain its actions, Caritas calls for financial support from the population. “It’s a short circuit system, donations made in Alsace are reinvested in Alsace”assure Arnaud Fritsch.
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