"Les Restos du Cœur" by Séverine FRITSCH
Through this “column”, we wish to give every ACT-ON GROUP employee the opportunity to share a personal commitment or a humanitarian and supportive contribution - aimed at helping the most vulnerable, protecting the planet or championing any other cause close to their heart.
This month, ACT-ON HRIS consultant Séverine FRITSCH invites us to learn more about the nightly street outreach (“maraudes”) organized by “Les Restos du Cœur”. Here’s her story…
"I often felt uncomfortable passing by people experiencing homelessness and not knowing how to help effectively. Should I give money? There are so many people… Offer cereal bars? Not enough… So I decided to look into volunteering, but many organizations had political or religious affiliations or focused on specific groups - that just didn’t resonate with me.
When I heard “Les Restos du Cœur” talk about how hard it was to recruit volunteers, it naturally felt like the right choice. I reached out, and they suggested I join the maraudes once a month.
Between March and June 2024, “Les Restos du Cœur” organized 78 maraudes. They rely on in-store food drives and donations. There, I met volunteers from all walks of life: students, young adults, retirees and so on.
How do these maraudes work? We load a car, labeled “Les Restos du Cœur,” with hot meals, milk, coffee, hygiene products… and sometimes tents, blankets, or shoes. Then we drive around just one district at a time, in groups of four, looking for isolated people who can’t get to the fixed food-distribution points, so we can offer them a meal.
My first time out, I was a bit anxious. When they told me we’d be going to a ‘rough’ neighborhood of Paris - where I usually walked quickly and avoided eye contact - I wondered if I’d made a big mistake (laughs)! Especially since these outings last late into the night. But I soon realized how misguided my preconceptions were.
When you stop, take the time to chat with people on the street, you realize they’re just like you and me - with incredibly rich life stories. Sometimes, the hot meal isn’t the main thing; they just need someone to talk to. Some even told us we should give their meal to someone who needed it more…
Facing such hardship is often painful, but I’m glad I chose this path. I talk about it a lot, and I’ve found that many people want to volunteer, including coworkers at ACT-ON GROUP. Two of my colleagues instantly agreed to help me at a National Collection drive for “Les Restos du Cœur” in a local store.
Given their enthusiasm, I contacted my HR Director, Erell Sadowski, to ask if we could share news of the collection with the entire group. Not only did that information get passed on, but the HR team soon organized a food drive for “Les Restos du Cœur” in our Paris offices… I’m very grateful and I hope we can do it again and expand it next year!
Ultimately, taking action isn’t just rewarding, it’s a beautiful display of our shared humanity. It doesn’t matter if the efforts are big or small - if you feel the urge, go for it!"
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