“Every expense is one less meal distributed”, the actions of the Secours populaire of Bagnols-sur-Cèze impacted by inflation

Léo, in charge of administration, Jean-Pierre, president of the Bagnolaise branch, Simone the vice-treasurer and Guy, the treasurer also take care of collecting furniture and household appliances donated by individuals. Midi Libre – Arthur Cagna Demoustier

The treasurer supports other volunteers during Secours populaire food sales Midi Libre – A. C. D.

Food products sold by Secours populaire have short expiration dates Midi Libre – A. C. D.

Les ventes de vêtement permettent de financer les actions de l’association. Midi Libre – A. C. D.

Since the beginning of the year, the volunteers of the Secours populaire of Bagnols-sur-Cèze have been put to the test. The association distributes 100 food parcels twice a week. But the increase in prices disrupts the branch which is very dependent on donations.

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The Secours populaire in Bagnols-sur-Cèze is very active at the start of the year. Twice a week, volunteers distribute around a hundred food parcels, 25 more than in winter 2024. These boxes are delivered by the Nîmes central office and contain pasta, rice, cocoa powder, milk cartons, semolina and canned goods. For its part, the Bagnols branch supplements the food boxes by purchasing eggs, fruit and vegetables with its income. “The beneficiaries are people from Bagnols and people living within a 10 km radius, explains Jean-Pierre, the president of the Secours populaire in Bagnols-sur-Cèze. It is rare to have families who come from further away because it is too expensive in petrol.“

The beneficiaries must present a file with invoice, salary and spending history to a social worker. The latter makes an initial analysis, which she transmits to the Secours populaire. If all the indicators are green, the families are registered. Only a contribution of between 50 cents and five euros per household is required.

A service dependent on donations

To finance these actions, Secours populaire relies on two sources of income. Every week, volunteers organize a food sale on the premises (rue Garidel-Alègre). The association offers salads, apples, clementines and yogurts with short expiry dates. These products are donated by the Carrefour and Aldi stores in Bagnols.

The association's income also comes from the sales of furniture and clothing in its three stores. “All our products come from donations, explains Léo, in charge of the administration of the Bagnolaise branch. We go and get furniture from individuals and people come to drop off clothes in store. The Kiabi brand also gives us new clothes with each change of collection.”

Volunteers put to the test

In recent years, conditions have become more difficult for volunteers. Inflation and the cost of utilities are increasingly eating into the association's budget. “Two of our three premises are at our expense and financially it's not ideal, says the president. The petrol to collect furniture from individuals and food parcels in Nîmes is our responsibility! Each expense is one less meal distributed…“

Another constraint is that 30 of the 35 volunteers are retired. “At 70, you find yourself carrying furniture that is not always in very good condition when you go to individuals!”, laments Guy, the treasurer. These generous souls also work several hours each day in premises with some insulation problems. But despite these constraints, “we remain very invested, it will take more to discourage us“, conclude the volunteers.

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