French food banks appeal for generosity during annual collection

Food banks across France are calling for donations this weekend as part of their annual collection, which has taken place on the last weekend of November every year since 1984.

From today (November 25) until Sunday (November 27), more than 130,000 volunteers – recognisable in their orange bibs – will be collecting non-perishable food donations at 9,000 centres across the country.

Collection points will be set up in supermarkets, schools, mairies and businesses.

Every year, this operation helps to gather together around 11,500 tonnes of food, or 23 million meals.

Food banks are particularly in need of dry food products that can be stored long-term, to be distributed alongside the fresh products which are collected each day.

Welcome donations would include tinned sardines and tuna, terrines, tinned ravioli, tinned fruit, tinned peas, tomatoes and beans, soups, oil, cereals, biscuits, coffee, tea and sugar.

Donations are sorted by category and redistributed to associations within the department where they were collected. They are then given to people who access aide alimentaire (support with food costs).

If you do not have the time or means to go shopping and make a donation this weekend, you can also make a financial donation online at Monpaniersolidaire.org until December 15.

The money raised will be used to buy food and toiletries, and the sum donated is 75% tax deductible. In this way, if you donate €50, you will only have paid €12.50 after your income tax is calculated.

“The people given this aid are normally students, retirees and single-parent families,” Banque alimentaire states.

“Some 86% of the people who benefit have a stable home but are particularly impacted by inflation.”

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