Eating the Heart will be present to collect food and hygiene products from exhibitors at the end of the 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 cope with the increasing need for food aid in a context marked by social and economic crises.

On Tuesday, September 24, Restos du Cœur volunteers will walk the aisles of the show to discuss with exhibitors what food and products they can take with them during the dismantling. These foods and products will then be distributed to people staying at Restos du Cœur centers in the Lyon region.

For several years, the Restos have been reaching out to various stakeholders in the agri-food sector who want to help the most disadvantaged by donating their unsold food. Donations are thus collected from agricultural producers, food manufacturers, major retailers, and even individuals. These donations allow the association to reduce its purchases but also to bring quality and diversity to the food aid offered to those it welcomes. The need is significant: the association served 142 million meals in 2020-2021.

Donation recovery is becoming a crucial issue for the Restos du Cœur in the current context marked by the repercussions of multiple crises. Inflation and rising food and energy prices will severely affect the poorest. In addition, they impact the association's economic resources, as purchasing and supply costs have risen sharply in recent weeks. The Restos is therefore preparing for the risk of a "scissors effect," meaning an increase in the number of visitors to its distribution centers correlated with a decrease in resources.

Meeting these challenges requires strengthening the recovery of in-kind donations. To this end, the Restos have set up dedicated donation logistics that can collect all types of volumes: from a few kilos to several truckloads. The Restos will also be able to count on the strong mobilization of its volunteers, always on the lookout for new donors. The teams are also on hand to monitor donations and handle administrative matters, with all donations receiving a certificate that allows for a tax reduction of up to 60% of the product cost.

To learn more about donating in kind to Restos du Cœur or for any donation proposal: donalimentaire@restosducoeur.org

They will be present at the end of the show Natexpo 2024 which will take place on September 23 and 24 in Lyon.