Heatwave: "We don't have enough water to distribute," the Toulon Solidarity association sounds the alarm

Malou, president of the Toulon Solidarity association, is launching a plea for help. While the Var region is currently experiencing a heatwave and has been placed on orange alert, vulnerable people are paying the price. Particularly the homeless. An already fragile population, which is bearing the brunt of the high temperatures.
Twice a week, during the patrols, Malou and her team of volunteers support the most deprived by providing them with food and drink.
Aboard their charity truck, they crisscross the city to bring a little comfort to those who need it most. For the past few days, the team of volunteers has been facing a critical situation: a shortage of bottled water. " We don't have enough for everyone, " laments Malou. For someone who spends most of her time helping others, such a problem is intolerable, especially when temperatures reach 40 degrees.
"We would need 60 more bottles per raid."" On Sunday, we distributed about forty bottles. But we need at least 60 more! " she estimates.
These precious water bottles are collected through donations from other associations like Lien 83, or from individuals. " We can't buy everything, we mustn't forget that we are volunteers. We finance the repairs to the truck, the purchase of cutlery and plates... I'm struggling to find money, but it's tiring me out! "
Malou says she is " angry with the state ": " The Departmental Directorate of Employment, Labor and Solidarity (DDETS) sends out alerts saying that people need to be vigilant and drink plenty of water, but when we ask for help, they fall on deaf ears; no one has responded to my request ," laments the association's president. " When I have to tell the beneficiaries that there is no more water, it breaks my heart to see them in such a bad way. They can't even go and fill bottles at the fountains because either the water isn't drinkable, or the fountain isn't working, or the person has difficulty moving around! "
For its part, the DDETS assures that " in the event of a heatwave, day centers and mobile teams extend their intervention hours. In the metropolitan area, the two mobile teams (Promosoins and the Order of Malta) offer a presence every day, from 10 a.m. for Promosoins and until midnight for the Order of Malta. The teams ensure the health of people throughout the year and particularly during this period thanks to the presence of nurses within the mobile health precariousness team managed by Promosoins. During the rounds, water and caps are distributed and advice is given. "
"No grant application"And continues by recalling that " during periods of heatwave, day centers extend their opening hours in order to offer a shelter solution during the day ": " Homeless people can find refuge in 4 day centers in the metropolis (1) which offer shower points, access to drinking water, etc. " While specifying that " a list of public water points is made available to homeless people " and that " with regard to the Toulon Solidarité association, it has not made any grant applications as of August 11. "
Malou, for her part, claims to have sent several emails seeking help, which have gone unanswered, including the last one on Tuesday. Despite everything, she strives to continue her daily fight to restore dignity and comfort to the homeless.
Donation: If you would like to donate packs and bottles of water, you can contact Malou, president of the Toulon Solidarité association at 06 80 96 64 30 / [email protected]
Var-Matin