An invoice amounting to 1,800 euros per year
The town hall of Migennes, in the Yonne, has just decided to cut off the heating of the local Restos of the Heart from January 2023, which represents an annual bill of 1,800 euros. The town, which has 7,000 inhabitants in an agglomeration of 15,000 inhabitants, found itself between a rock and a hard place: the mayor, Mr Jean-Claude Bourgeois (LR), chose to cut the heating rather than cut civil servants or increase taxes.
Rising electricity and gas prices
Mr. Bourgeois invokes a rise in the prices of electricity and gas, which have increased by 300 to 400% since the start of the health crisis. With a budget of 8.9 million euros, the mayor has a million euros in savings to find and has chosen to cut the heating rather than cut jobs or increase taxes.
A decision without consulting the Restos du Cœur
The town hall was not consulted by the town hall about its decision to cut the heating of the Restos du Cœur, which helps around 500 people in the town. The representatives of the Restos du Cœur said that they would try to find solutions to overcome this decision, and that they would also try to talk with the mayor to find an amicable solution.
A budget of 8.9 million euros and 500,000 euros to be saved
Questioned by AFP, the mayor of Migennes, LR François Boucher, invokes an “increase in gas and electricity prices of 300 to 400%”. “I have a million euros in savings to find on a budget of 8.9. It was either that or cut civil servant posts or increase taxes,” he explains. “On our side, we have reduced consumption and lighting as much as possible. Some public rooms will remain closed this winter. But I still have 500,000 euros in savings to find, ”pleads the mayor of Migennes.
The Restos du Cœur have fifteen centers and around 320 volunteers in the department, and the number of beneficiaries of the association has increased from 1.1 million to 1.26 million since the start of the health crisis. The municipality of Migennes is particularly affected, in particular because of the recent closure of the Benteler factory, which employed 400 people.
The Restos du Coeur in a few figures
In order to better understand the importance of restaurants of the heart today within French society, here are some very telling figures:
- 70,000 regular volunteers and 23,000 occasional volunteers
- 2,200 places of reception
- 142 million meals distributed
- 1.1 million people welcomed
- 110,000 children under 3 helped
- 50 Babies from the heart
- 2,226 employees in integration, dynamic exit rate 50%
- 4,752 people supported in their job search
- 33 cooking workshops
- 1.9 million annual contacts on assistance and support activities for street people
- 1,215 people in difficulty housed
- 811 people housed in emergency accommodation
- 98,845 nights
- 36,528 spectators of Rendez-vous at the cinema
- 687 book spaces
- 4,814 vacation departures
- 8,823 people supported in access to social rights and 3,046 people supported in access to justice
- 922 microloans granted
- 58 neighborhood gardens
- 125 million Euros in resources collected from the public (donations, events, legacies and other donations) in 2020-2021
Through all its actions, the association allows thousands of people to live a little more with dignity, by facing the torments of life.
Food is vital!
The association created by Coluche has succeeded in mobilizing 70,000 regular volunteers and 23,000 occasional volunteers to carry out its activities. It has 2,200 places to welcome and help people in need. During the 2020-2021 period, it distributed 142 million meals and welcomed 1.1 million people. It has also helped 110,000 children under the age of 3 thanks to its 50 Restos Bébés du Coeur. The organization employs 2,226 people in integration, with a dynamic exit rate of 50%, and has supported 4,752 people in their job search. It also organizes 33 cooking workshops and has registered 1.9 million annual contacts during its assistance and support activities with street people.
It housed 1,215 people in difficulty and hosted 811 people in emergency accommodation, for a total of 98,845 overnight stays. It also welcomed 36,528 spectators during its Rendez-vous at the cinema and has 687 book spaces. It organized 4,814 departures on vacation and supported 8,823 people with access to social rights and 3,046 people with access to justice. It has granted 922 microcredits and manages 58 neighborhood gardens. Finally, it collected 125 million Euros in resources from the public (donations, events, legacies and other donations) in 2020-2021.
Clearly, as hard as the survival of the restaurants of the heart is, it is essential. Don’t hesitate to help the restaurants of the heart closest to you. Whether donations of time, money, food or equipment, everything is useful to sustain this social action carried out by volunteers with a big heart.
