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The Restos du Cœur of Belgium: 40 years of solidarity, and a dark future
December 2025
Forty years of commitment, listening and shared meals.
Forty years fighting poverty, defending dignity and rebuilding social bonds.
As the Restos du Cœur of Belgium mark 40 years of existence, one certainty emerges: solidarity remains indispensable, but it is increasingly under strain.
Precariousness taking hold
The first Restos du Cœur were created in 1985 to respond to a social emergency. Forty years later, that emergency has become part of everyday life.
In 2024, the 21 Restos du Cœur in the country distributed more than 1.6 million meals and food parcels. The trend continues: 1,409,000 meals and food parcels had already been distributed between January and November 2025.
This sustained rise shows a worrying reality: poverty is becoming entrenched and now affects every part of the population — families, the working poor, students and older people.
The teams see it every day: poverty is not receding. It is spreading and becoming normalised. The middle class is increasingly affected.
Poverty is changing face: it is becoming more silent, but alas no less deep.
An increasingly fragile balance
Needs are rising, but financial resources are falling. The Federation has for several years faced growing budgetary pressure, driven by rising costs (energy, transport, inflation) and increasing demand for food aid.
In 2026, the federal budget for food purchases will fall from €27 million to €15 million, a 44 % reduction. In addition, the budget for hygiene products and other non‑food items under the ESF+ programme will disappear entirely, forcing associations to forgo these purchases or finance them themselves. At the same time, ongoing reforms to Article 60 are profoundly changing the conditions for employment via the CPAS, reducing their capacity for socio‑professional integration.
The accumulation of these new measures risks weakening the entire social sector in a lasting way, already confronted with growing demand and insufficient means.
If aid decreases, meals will be cut and lives will be destabilised.
Even citizen solidarity, though essential, struggles to make up for these shortfalls.
During the 2025 annual collection drive, volunteers gathered 19 tonnes of food — well below the 30,000 kg hoped for — a sign that people are increasingly affected financially.
Gestures of solidarity remain, but may no longer suffice in the face of needs.
Our four pillars of action
For 40 years, the Restos du Cœur of Belgium have acted through four fundamental pillars, expressing their social mission in all its dimensions:
- Food aid: the historic core of their action, to fight hunger and ensure dignified nutrition.
- Educational support: because access to training and culture is essential to break the cycle of poverty.
- Housing assistance: to provide a roof, administrative support and a chance of stability.
- Healthcare support: with medical services open to all.
These four axes are inseparable: together, they provide support to rebuild damaged lives.
The strength of selflessness
Behind these actions stand men and women — volunteers, employees and partners — who give their time, skills and humanity.
In the kitchens, in offices, on the roads or at reception, they embody solidarity in its most human form.
Selflessness remains the primary resource of the Restos du Cœur. Without it, nothing would hold.
Every day, thousands of individual gestures keep the collective mission alive: to welcome, to feed, to listen, to offer guidance and support.
Rigorous management in the service of solidarity
The Resto du Cœur of Belgium Federation is committed to rigorous and transparent management.
Donations, employment aid, goods offered by partners and legacies make up the majority of income.
A large share of expenditure goes directly to field work: food aid, housing, education, health.
Only 5 % of the Federation's financial income covers general administrative costs, ensuring that solidarity remains the priority.
Every euro received is used responsibly, in direct service of the mission.
A commemoration to remember and act
This year, the Resto du Cœur of Belgium Federation commemorates 40 years of solidarity.
Not a celebration, but a moment of remembrance and recognition: recalling why this human chain came into being, and measuring how necessary it remains today.
On 21 December 2025, Manneken Pis will be dressed in Coluche’s‑ costume.
On this occasion, the Resto du Cœur of Belgium Federation, accompanied by a delegation from each Resto du Cœur, will gather on the Brussels GrandPlace‑ [Market Square].
In procession, to the rhythm of the brass band for the Meyboom and alongside the Order of Manneken Pis, they will go to the statue to pay tribute to Coluche and his commitment to solidarity. A simple, powerful and collective gesture — emblematic of what the Restos du Cœur are.
We commemorate 40 years of solidarity, but also 40 years of unfinished struggle.
As long as poverty exists, the Restos du Cœur will be there.