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An essential food drive for the Restos du Cœur

March 2025

The food collection drive plays a crucial role in supplying the Restos du Cœur. It helps replenish stocks, provide vital food aid and raise awareness of the reality of poverty. In view of the rising numbers of beneficiaries and current economic challenges, this collection is more important than ever.

Testimonials from various Restos du Cœur have unveiled the scale of the needs for us, as well as the different ways to offer support.

An indispensable collection drive to maintain food stocks

Physical and virtual collections make up a crucial part of the food stocks of the Restos du Cœur. Some Restos du Cœur, such as those in Namur and Quiévrain, rely heavily on biannual collection drives (75% and 60% of their annual stock, respectively), while others, like those in Wavre, draw about 10-15% of their needs from them.

The Resto du Cœur in Charleroi indicates that the food collection accounts for only 1% of its annual stock. However, its impact goes far beyond this figure, as it makes it possible to target essential goods, unlike random donations. Without this collection, the organisation would have to buy some essential products itself to meet demand.

A sharply increasing demand

The needs are skyrocketing in several regions, and the profiles of beneficiaries are changing:

  • An alarming rise in beneficiaries: In Wavre, the attendance at the Restos du Cœur increased by 392% between 2019 and 2024. In Namur, requests for food parcels also rose in just one year.
  • Varied profiles: There has been an increase in large families (Resto du Cœur of Quiévrain), workers with insufficient incomes, young employees (Resto du Cœur of Mariembourg), and couples with children (Resto du Cœur Val de Sambre).
  • Precarious situations: A poignant testimonial from the Resto du Cœur Val de Sambre highlights Annie (a pseudonym), who, after working as a housekeeper her whole life, found herself having to pay a rent of €600 while repaying a loan of €500 per month on a pension of €1,200. Food aid enables her to get by until her loan is paid off.

Crucial food and material needs

The Restos du Cœur are mainly lacking protein-based products (meat, ham, cheese, eggs, pâté), prepared meals, canned goods, dairy and food cupboard products (rice, cereals, sugar, coffee); in terms of hygiene: baby nappies, laundry detergent, and cleaning products are also in high demand. With rising prices, these goods are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain without public support.

Essential mobilisation of volunteers

Every collection relies on the commitment of volunteers: 50 in Namur, 40 in Wavre, more than 80 in Quiévrain, 30 in Val de Sambre, 19 in Charleroi, 3 in Mariembourg. Their role is crucial to ensure the logistics and distribution of donations, a major challenge given the volume and the limited time to organise everything.

Why participate? A gesture that changes lives

The Restos du Cœur underscore one essential message: "It could happen to anyone." No one is immune to a life accident, job loss, or financial difficulty.

Every donation, whether material or financial, has a direct impact:
💙 Food is immediately redistributed or used to prepare meals.
💰 Financial donations are used to purchase fresh products such as meat, eggs, and vegetables.

"Giving is good for the heart and the arteries!" the Resto du Cœur Val de Sambre humorously reminds us.

How to help

✅ Make a donation via the virtual collection drive: A simple and quick way to support the Restos du Cœur by purchasing product kits online.
✅ Become a volunteer: The Restos du Cœur always need help with collecting, distributing, and organising.
✅ Organise a collection: Whether in the workplace, school, or an association, every initiative is valuable.
✅ Make a financial donation: Essential to cover fixed costs and purchase missing products.
✅ Offer your skills: In addition to material and financial donations, you can also help in other ways. The Restos du Cœur need people with specific skills:

  • Hairdressers and pedicurists to provide care to beneficiaries
  • Craftsmen to carry out repairs in the premises
  • IT or administrative professionals to help the smooth running of the organisation
  • Freelancers willing to offer their services on occasion

Every form of help is a vital building block for the structure of solidarity.

Let us support the Restos du Cœur together!

With the current crisis and the increasing number of beneficiaries, the food collection is a necessity. Every gesture counts and provides vital support to the most disadvantaged.

It's your turn: participate in the collection drive and share the information around you! 💙

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