The Food Bank experienced a tragic end to the year for its volunteers and the associations which help the most deprived following the fire in November of their six trucks in the parking lot of their premises located at the Marché Gare in Nîmes.
But very quickly, aid arrived and allowed the resumption of the distribution of meals, the supply of solidarity grocery stores, and aid to everyone. To date, 300,000 euros in donations have been collected and we should reach €450,000 with all the pledges and payment of insurance. This Tuesday, January 14, a check for €50,000 was presented from Crédit Mutuel Méditerranéen.
Crédit Mutuel Méditerranéen, a link in the solidarity chain
Called to the scene of the fire, Joseph Pronesti, president of the Gard Food Bank association, was devastated by such cowardice and contempt for all the volunteers and members of the associations. He could not envisage depriving the poorest of meals for Christmas. Like Santa Claus, Bernard Dalbiez, president of the Crédit Mutuel Méditerranéen Federation, touched deep within himself upon learning of this disaster, contacted the national president of the CMM and they decided to release emergency aid of 50 000 € to allow the association to continue volunteering.
Which made Joseph Pronesti say that “bankers are human beings, have a social fiber and know how to redistribute”. The CMM makes solidarity commitments with the societal dividend, works to mitigate medical and solidarity deserts.
The Food Bank is a hive that operates on a daily basis and without volunteers, an entire sector would be on the street. We can measure the emotion of Joseph Pronesti who would never have thought he would be able to collect so many donations to continue allowing the most deprived to eat. This surge of generosity, of recognition of their work, boosted them and gave them incredible strength.
After a visit to the premises, which they must leave within a year, to the directors of the CMM agencies in Nîmes to show them the cold rooms, explain their operation by product division and traceability, with a bar code, implementation place for greater security. It's a whole logistics with a nutritional distribution that is organized. She is in contact with the Chamber of Agriculture, local producers for unsold goods and everyone is a winner. The fight against food waste also helps support the Food Bank. Then, he delivered some figures on the activity.
Gard is one of the poorest departments in France with 91 associations 42,441 beneficiaries, with a white area in the north-east and west which they are trying to reduce with the establishment of solidarity grocery stores.
Normally, there is a food bank per department and branches which take over. 76 volunteers, 7 employees and 2 civic services work daily to distribute 1,850 tonnes of food per year to associations and contribute to the 12,000 meals served per day. But also 750 kg of personal and household hygiene products allow you to live with dignity and cleanliness.
“The check from the CMM brings relief, it is recognition to see all these volunteers, from the smallest to the largest, to participate in this outpouring of solidarity. » Before leaving with six new trucks whose price is estimated at €500,000, they operate with rental and two trucks donated by the Strasbourg Food Bank which had just changed its own.
But in addition to the costs of picking them up and the rental of trucks which is estimated at €12,000, the president of the Food Bank, helped by his accountant, keeps the accounts and is careful not to spend more than they can. and especially at the expense of meals for the most deprived. After warmly thanking the members of the CMM, the president of the Food Bank could only hope that this generous gesture would not have to be repeated.
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