With a single precarious income earned by Jean working as a night cashier at a petrol station, the couple found themselves spiralling into debt. “The beginning of the month already felt like the end. We pinched every penny.”
It was against this background that Jean heard about the Restos du Cœur through a friend. But seeking external help wasn’t easy. “We felt ashamed, afraid of being judged. When we collected food parcels, the bags were marked with the European flag. On the bus, you could sense people judging you.”
Despite the stigma, Jean and his family had no choice but to continue visiting the Restos du Cœur. There, they met the site manager: “He was our guiding star. He helped us enormously, far beyond just providing food parcels.”
The site manager and his team didn’t stop at the distribution of meals. They offered comprehensive support. Jean recalls: “He came to visit our house, saw the extent of the damage, and guided us in contacting the home insurance, speaking with experts... The whole team was always there to support us.”
One day, Jean got an unexpected call from the site manager. “He said, ‘I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow morning. I have something to show you.’” The next day, he took Jean to a brand-new house. The owner, moved by their story, agreed to rent it to them at an affordable price, much lower than their previous rent in the dilapidated house. “€400 for a low-energy house with three bedrooms and a rainwater recovery system... It was incredible.”
This fresh start transformed their lives. Jean took on full-time work, his wife found employment at a hospital, and their children grew up in a healthy environment. The manageable utility bills and affordable rent made it possible to adhere to the repayment plan developed by the social worker from the Restos du Cœur. They gradually paid off their debts and began saving. “This house was a springboard. Two years later, we had our third child. Everything improved.”After nine years in that house, Jean and his family saw an unimaginable dream come true: they became homeowners. They purchased a spacious house with a large garden. Jean reflects: “We could breathe at long last. Today, we’re living.”
Ever grateful to the Restos du Cœur, Jean is keen to give back. When he received a stock of unsold toys from his grandmother, who runs an online shop, he didn’t hesitate to donate them to the organisation. “We were helped without any expectation of return. This is my way of saying thank you, of giving back a bit of what we were given.” He adds: “We distributed those toys to schools and families at the Restos du Cœur during the end-of-year holidays. Seeing the children’s smiles is priceless.” Jean continues: “Small gestures like these bring joy to families in need.” He encourages those hesitating to ask for help: “You have to rise above the fear of judgement. The Restos du Cœur are a springboard, a step towards rebuilding.”
Jean also has a message for sceptics: “You never know what tomorrow might bring. Anyone could find themselves walking through that door one day.”
Today, Jean and his family enjoy a more peaceful life, but they don’t forget their journey. “The Restos du Cœur were like parents to us. They taught us how to get back on our feet. What we’ve become is also thanks to them.”
Jean’s testimony illustrates how the Restos du Cœur of Belgium go far beyond the distribution of meals. They provide comprehensive, humane support and restore hope to those who need it most. But behind every story like Jean’s, thousands of families are still struggling.
This testimony is a call for solidarity. Whether through donations or volunteering, every gesture counts in helping others like Jean regain a dignified life.
Solidarity is a never-ending chain. Will you be the next link?
