Just a reminder that the Collection is this weekend… nationwide
It is a good-cause and everything collected is dispersed to those in-need within each Department in which it is collected/donated.
For those who won’t be at the shops, it is possible to donate goods/money on-line… the link is within the article above
and here…
We’ll be manning the stall at our local Intermarché 
Well, I’m shattered… got an emergency call to head to our local Intermarche this morning first thing … as someone had cried-off…
and I’ve only just got back home…
Thirsty, standing 'cos there wasn’t room for a chair… so with my bad foot giving me gyp… it seemed endless, but it was great fun.
Just come back from Lidl and did a big bag of stuff folks can use plus the all important pack of loo rolls. Was annoyed to see the same two beggars sitting outside the door with their tin in front of them plus what looked like a French bouldoge (sp) puppy nestling in the woman’s jacket. These are people in their late 30’s/40’s who should be working at finding a job and if they can afford a dog then no, will not donate tothem and if they qualify, they can claim RSA too.
Just back from Inter where a kind neighbour drive me since I’m still not able to - started physio yesterday though so maybe soon.
The people collecting were 3 students or lycée aged people, I had a look in the box and saw lots of food so I gave them a bag of multi packs of toiletries, things like sanitary towels, soap, shampoo, deodorant, lip balm, toothbrushes, toothpaste, moisturiser.
We used to do shoeboxes for charities when my children were little, we put things like the above in them, and a couple of small toys, it was nice but sad at the same time thinking who they might be for, and wondering if the recipients liked them. I always used to put a lipstick in, you need a bit of frippery for morale.
We used to do those when my two were in primaire in Bretagne as the school was twinned with one in Senegal where one of the pupils had come from and they became penpals. It was mostly pencils, crayons, paper, some toiletries that wouldn’t be too heavy or get squashed and everyone helped.
I was pleased to have one young man (about 10), bring me a bag of bits and bobs. with a very serious expression, he carefully said (something like) “this is for people who don’t have enough”.
His parents had obviously explained to him what “today” was all about and I said “merci beaucoup” and smiled… at him then at the parents over his head.
I’m not planning to go out this WE, but if I did pop to the shops, I’d, as usual, buy baby food and sanitary stuff for them. I’m currently working on an all-year project with the Secours Populaire. I buy the seeds, plant and tend them, and they get the produce. I get to experiment, keep myself out of mischief, and do a good deed.
We used to do that in the UK when we were children in the 60’s and early 70’s. Always shoe boxes 
. That and the local harvest festivals.
Edit: I think it was the Salvation Army we did the shoe boxes for. I remember mum used to donate whatever money we could afford in the runup to Christmas as well. She once told me that she did it as the only shoes she had as a child in the 30’s came from the Salvation Army.
My offer’s still there, can either drop things in or if you need a bigger shop can come and get you. Have big gaps Mondays and Tuesdays.
That’s cute, I do the same with Rémy. I was so proud of him the other day, we came out of Lidl and he had his pastry he’d chosen in the bag in his hand. I glanced back to see where he was and he’d gone back to give an older man begging his treat. If you knew how much he loves he’s cakes you’d understand how sweet it was 
I see these sorts all the time in front of our Lidl as well. It beggars belief that they can’t or won’t find a job. This city (Cholet) seems to be booming (until now when they are closing the Michelin plant). Anyway, I gave some canned goods and I hope the charities can figure out who needs help better than I can.
Done via l’assistante sociale, who examines the person’s situation (tax returns, rent payments, CAF etc) to see if they should be given access. A friend of ours is convinced that people can game the system so refuses to help the BA, but I never quite grasped how.
Back in my old town I used to drive past the food bank when using the free parking and was always disgusted at the people coming out loaded up and getting into big mercs and other SUV’s, none of them old!! These are the ones who play the game in everything they can get for free.
we can all see something and put our own perspective on it… which might well be very different to reality… who knows.
In our area of Dordogne, I do know that many of the helpers (like me) drive decent vehicles and will load-up with goods needed elsewhere…
It would be a mistake to assume that this is someone taking the Michael.
There are fewer panhandlers around than a while back. No doubt due to the rise of the debit card. Those that remain always seem to have dogs. A few years back there were a couple of lads in their early twenties outside our local Carrefour. It was the time of the vendanges and there was plenty of seasonal work available. So I asked them why they were not working. To be told “That is for fools”.
Yes, that would get anyone’s back up with that response and I think those that beg are either clandestine under the radar or as you say, too bone idle to get up and earn money like most people do. My son has the same sort of problems at school when a pupil or parent says they can’t afford books and pens etc (thats what the allocation rentrée is for from the CAF) yet the kid and parents both have the very latest smartphone. Go figure that one out.
Thank You to Everyone who did give donations this last weekend.
Thank You to Everyone who volunteered and worked their socks off.
EDIT: and this coming weekend 29/30th November it will be Telethon… so another chance to be generous… 
Yes indeed it is! My goodness it’s going to be hectic here, especially since I (amongst a lot of others) bravely volunteered to make a cake for a fund-raising meal on Friday night and now a chap is arriving in the morning to change the Linky and we’ll be without power for quite a while… May have to make a trip to the boulangerie 