The Restos du Cœur will be present to collect Food and Hygiene Products from exhibitors at the end of the trade show. This collection is part of the association’s donation recovery activities. In-kind donations are an essential resource for the Restos du Cœur, which must meet the increasing demand for food assistance in a context marked by social and economic crises.

On Tuesday, September 24th, Restos du Cœur volunteers will walk through the aisles of the trade show to coordinate with exhibitors on the food and products they can take during dismantling. These goods will then be distributed to people welcomed in the Restos du Cœur centers in the Lyon region.

For several years, the Restos have been reaching out to various players in the agri-food sector who wish to help the most disadvantaged by donating their unsold products. Donations are collected from agricultural producers, food industry companies, major retail chains, and even individuals. These donations allow the association to reduce its purchases while also bringing quality and variety to the food assistance provided to those in need. The needs are significant: the association served 142 million meals in 2020-2021.

The recovery of donations is becoming a crucial issue for the Restos du Cœur in the current context marked by the repercussions of multiple crises. Inflation, rising prices of food products, and energy will significantly impact the poorest. Moreover, these factors affect the association’s economic resources, as the costs of purchasing and supplying have risen sharply in recent weeks. The Restos are thus preparing for the risk of a “scissors effect,” meaning an increase in the number of people visiting their distribution centers, coupled with a decrease in resources.

Addressing these challenges requires strengthening the recovery of in-kind donations. To this end, the Restos have set up logistics dedicated to donations, enabling the recovery of all volumes, from a few kilos to several truckloads. The Restos can also rely on the strong mobilization of their volunteers, who are always on the lookout for new donors. The teams are also present to manage donation tracking and administrative aspects, with each donation being certified, allowing donors to benefit from a tax reduction of up to 60% of the product’s cost price.

For more information about in-kind donations to the Restos du Cœur or to make a donation proposal: donalimentaire@restosducoeur.org

The Restos du Cœur will be present at the end of the Natexpo 2024 trade show, which will take place on September 23rd and 24th in Lyon.