“The most shocking thing I saw were young people lining up at the food bank. They were wearing their work uniform: an Uber food delivery vest.” A quote from someone I heard on the radio this week. The irony. Young people delivering food to others on scooters and bicycles, most always at night, but not having enough themselves to eat. A note to Uber Eats users? Tip generously.
Also this week: standing in a shopping mall buying myself a ham and cheese baguette sandwich, I heard a soft voice beside me – “Excusez-moi. Would you have one or two euros so that I could buy something to eat?” I turned my head to see a woman, well-dressed, in her fifties. She looked embarrassed at having to ask such a question. She was French.
“Bien sûr“, I said. I bought a second ham and cheese baguette sandwich. Walking back to the office, I thought – That woman could be me. She could be YOU. She could be all of us. No job, not enough money to eat, no one or nothing to fall back on.
Last night after work, I stopped off at Marks & Spencer to stock up on food (for myself) for the weekend. I passed a young woman sitting on the floor with a small sign asking for food or money. Inside M&S, I bought a hot pizza and a drink and gave it to her as I walked past on my way to the metro.
I no longer judge. I used to, but these are hard, hard times. “Unless you’ve walked a mile in someone else’s shoes, do not judge.”
It can happen fast. You lose your job through no fault of your own (redundancy. restructuring. Or a pandemic called COVID). Your unemployment benefits run out, you can no longer pay your rent or mortgage payments. Or you fall ill and can’t pay your medical bills. Or you’re a student and just have no money and you’re alone. Every homeless or hungry person has a valid story to tell (and it always begins with family.) Those from the Middle East? Their stories begin with war, displacement or persecution.
You have no family to help out, no loving parents whose home you can return to until you get back on your feet.
France has a generous safety net, but it’s being stretched to the limit. And benefits last for only so long. One of the reasons I live in France is because of that safety net. Because you see, I have no family. My loving parents died in the 1990s. Had they not died, I would’ve moved back to Toronto a long time ago to be close to them. I have an older sister – married, well-off – but we’re estranged. The last time I saw her was in a lawyer’s courtroom in Toronto in 2000.
There are so many wonderful, hardworking charities, associations and organizations the world over. For every Christmas or Hanukkah gift we buy this year, let’s donate to a charity as well!
La Fondation Abbé Pierre
Les Restos du Coeur
Le Secours catholique
La Croix rouge française collects clothes, toys, blankets.
https://www.croix-rouge.fr/French-Red-Cross
The Secours Populaire Français (SPF), or the French Popular Relief, dedicated to fighting poverty and discrimination.
EXCLUSION EXCLUDES NO-ONE.
Juliet in Paris
Thanks for this. Every Christmas we volunteer at our local United Way chapter. Instead of buying our kids mindless cheap plastic toys, they learn a lot more about life and humanity. Seasons greetings to you.
Thanks, PC. Wishing you and your loved ones good health over this upcoming holiday season.
Bonjour Juliet, c’était Patrice Blanc, président des Restos du cœur, qui a dit cela sur France Inter cette semaine. Merci de nous rappeler de donner cet hiver à ceux qui ont moins de chance que nous.
Mes meilleurs voeux à vous,
Nicolas
Merci pour cette info, Nicolas. Je vous souhaite à mon tour une très bonne fin d’année.
Thank you for your generosity and compassion, Juliet. You’re right – this could easily have been us. I have no idea what it’s like to have absolutely nothing – with nothing in sight.
I recently saw a piece about an artist who befriends the homeless who live near him. Then he paints their portraits. These are then sold (for $2500), and the money goes to the homeless person. Amazing – what a wonderful use of his talent.
Lori ! I’ve been emailing you, did you not get my email of this morning? I haven’t heard from you in ages. Please respond.
Seniors in Canada got a small bonus in spring and we donated ours to our local food bank because of increased use by people who would (in Before Times) been managing reasonably well. I think it’s incumbent upon those of us who can do a bit more to do it. It could so easily be us.
People can no longer live in a myopic, self-absorbed bubble. We all need to do our part, however humble. That’s what being human is, giving a helping hand. This Covid thing is a nightmare.
“…But for the grace of God, go I…”
There was an atrocious “incident” the other night on the Place de la République in Paris where French cops brutally dislodged a migrant encampment. The word “incident” hardly seems appropriate. Anyway, an investigation is underway and the Chief of Police is under investigation.