Meet the Green Father Christmas

THE 40th campaign by the ‘Green Father Christmasses’ of charity Secours Populaire Français is under way this week.

Each winter since 1976 les Pères Noël verts – volunteers for the charity which helps needy people across France – dress up in a bid to help struggling families have a better Christmas.

They collect money, new toys and food, to be distributed to low-income families who are looking for help with presents and Christmas food.

In the December edition of Connexion we have an in-depth interview with the Secours Populaire’s inspirational president, Julien Lauprêtre, who has headed it since 1958.

He told Connexion: “The idea behind that is that green is the colour of hope. The Green Father Christmas goes to places where the red one doesn’t go.”

Apart from offering practical help in the form of food or toys, the charity also organises outings such as free meals and theatre trips. It also runs partnerships with businesses, such as certain supermarkets which have agreed to offer shelves of new free toys.

Mr Lauprêtre said: “We insist they should be new. The kid from a poor family is already dealing with life’s hardships; we’re not going to give them a broken toy.”

There are branches of Les Secours Populaire Français in many towns around France – your local one should be able to tell you about initiatives in your area or collect donations. It is also possible to donate to the charity nationally at: Secours Populaire.

• The December issue of Connexion is on sale now in newsagents or available as a PDF download, at €3.80, via: connexionfrance.com.