The Restaurants du Cœur (literally Restaurants of the Heart but meaning Restaurants of Love), commonly known as the Restos du Cœur, is a French charity founded by comedian Coluche (1944–1986) and its main activity is to distribute food packages and hot meals to those in need.
The association targets the homeless and those with of low income (single families, elderly people with a low pension, young adults, etc.). The association also helps people to find housing and supports other projects. This not-for-profit association has the "reconnu d'utilité publique" (recognised as being of public interest) status which exempts it from specific taxes. The association had 66,000 volunteers in 2015 and is known for its yearly Les Enfoirés fundraising concert.
History
Comedian and actor Coluche launched the idea of the Restos du Cœur on 26 September 1985: "I have a little idea, a bit like this... If there are people who would be interested in sponsoring a free soup kitchen, we'd start first in Paris and then spread to France's big cities."[1] The first Resto du Cœur opened on 21 December ahead of Christmas and soon multiplied all over the country. The goal of the founders was to give away 2,000 to 3,000 meals per day; 8.5 million meals were distributed in the first winter alone. In 2018, 130 million meals were served.
The initiative was supported by a song written by the songwriter and singer Jean-Jacques Goldman called les Restos du cœur, which included some of the lyrics being sung or read out by other celebrities. A televised show allowed the organisation to collect several million francs.
Coluche pleaded for the Restos' cause at the European Parliament in February 1986 after learning that surplus products cost more to store than to distribute free to the poor; his plea was heard and in 1987 the surplus was made available to four organisations.
Operation
Structure and Organisation
The Restos du Cœur consists of one national organisation and 119 departmental organisations.
The National Organisation
Founded by the comedian and actor Coluche in 1985, "Les Restos du Cœur - Relais du Cœur" is a voluntary association as defined by the French association law of 1901. Recognised as being of public interest, its goal is to help the neediest and to fight social marginalisation.
It is a founding member of the Committee of the Charter of Deontology of Social and Humanitarian Organisations, a group of associations committed to financial transparency. It owns the name and logo of the Restos du Cœur.
Every year, the general assembly elects its governing body, which in turn chooses the president and the board from its members. The board enacts the policy of the Restos, as defined by the general assembly, at weekly meetings. The national organisation's goals are:
- to centralise purchases of food and to supply it to the departments;
- to encourage the departmental organisations to be involved in the reintegration of their beneficiaries into society, and to support them in their endeavours using technical and financial support;
The People
Donors
There are various ways people can contribute to the Restos du Cœur:
However, the following are all forbidden:
- Individual financial donations
- Offering services (loan of buildings, transport, printing...) or participating in authorised protests, which are strictly regulated financially and legally.
- Purchasing an Enfoirés CD (les Enfoirés - "The Tossers" or "The Bastards" in English - is the name of an annual concert to raise money for the cause), bequeathing goods or money, or giving up copyright over a work.
- Donating goods (books, clothes, food, hygiene products...).
- fundraising or garage sales;
- commercial operations without the consent of the Restos du Cœur;
- and direct mailing canvassing financial donations, apart from those from the organisation itself.
Volunteers
The Restos abroad
Belgium: 1986
There are 16 Restos in Belgium: 12 in Wallonia, two in Flanders and two in Brussels. Coluche inaugurated the first one, in Liège, on 22 February 1986. It was immediately decided to leave it open all year long, and as elsewhere, the services provided were quickly swamped.
The Belgian Federation of Restos currently offers many services (social, legal, reinsertion...), and help (administrative, financial, medical, lodging...).
Germany: 1997
One can also find Restaurant des Herzens in Germany, specifically in Erfurt and Leipzig.
In Erfurt, there is a cultural programme with theatre and music, and even a Father Christmas for the children. In 2004, however, dwindling donations resulted in reduced opening hours.
In Leipzig, the beneficiaries have to pay 50 euro cents per meal, otherwise the distribution of food would be impossible to finance. Nevertheless, a free minibus service operates between the central railway station and the restaurant.
External links
References
- Maxime Tellier. Les Restos du coeur : la "petite idée" de Coluche qui n’était pas censée durer Radio France, 21 Nov 2022^
- Stagiaire1 Euro C&O. restos_du_coeur_presentation_en.pdf January 23, 2013^