Organizations for solidarity and mutual aid Alsace

Founded in 1985, on the initiative of Coluche, the Restaurants du Coeur - Les Relais du Coeur by its official name - have never stopped working, helping and providing voluntary assistance to the most disadvantaged, particularly in the food sector. Thanks to the generosity of the public and the work of our volunteers, everyone contributes in their own way to helping the most disadvantaged get by... Not just in winter, as in the past, but all year round! The Colmar branch of Restos du Coeur distributes meal baskets for people to cook at home, as well as a resto Bébés du Coeur, a place for babies aged 0 to 12 months to receive material aid (clothes, diapers and childcare and hygiene products). Other initiatives include a weekly knitting workshop and, more recently, access to a hairdressing salon, enabling the most underprivileged to regain their self-confidence with a haircut, a change that facilitates professional reintegration. The Restos du Coeur's missions are expanding, and kind-hearted souls can get involved as volunteers or make a donation. Call the Restos du Coeur center in Colmar or visit the website!

Founded in Colmar in 1973, the Hope Association is a humanitarian action movement and a reflection group to address the disastrous effects of the social divide that penalizes the most disadvantaged. It provides assistance to vulnerable people by enabling them to take or regain a full place within the social body. Reception, hosting and support structures and judicial services were established. For example, a hundred men and women are permanently housed (the association has homes in Colmar, an accommodation center in Volgelshiem, a night shelter and a place of life: the Ferme de la Clausmatt). Its housing service allows for more than 200 people to stay. Workshops to promote social integration are also offered (carpentry, mechanics, forestry work and green spaces, laundry, sorting and upgrading used objects…). If you have a little free time and want to help others, don't hesitate to volunteer!

Caritas's mission is to put an end to poverty and commit itself to dignity and solidarity on behalf of vulnerable people. Until June, permanent work on the Arc-en-Ciel street forces staff to welcome you to Rue de Léon, behind the court of instance. Personalized hospitality and coaching, individual meeting time, possible financial assistance, help in finding jobs… The entire team - permanent and voluntary - is there to help and support those in need.

ALSACE NATURE has been campaigning for environmental protection in Alsace for almost 60 years. With 140 associations and 2,000 members, it represents a veritable regional ecological force. Its action is deployed on several fronts: raising awareness through events, nature outings and training courses, and defending environmental issues with local elected representatives. Thanks to its expertise and local roots, ALSACE NATURE has established itself as a key player on the Alsatian ecological scene, dedicated to a greater appreciation of nature.

The concept of solidarity fridges was created in Paris. The objective is to provide self-service refrigerators in large cities to allow food donations. Restaurateurs or local residents can thus make leftovers or unsold ones available in the area. This food can be taken free of charge by homeless people, students or large families who are struggling to make ends meet. A great idea that should be deployed in other cities such as Nancy. The big advantage of this beautiful project? Solidarity towards people in need and a second life for food.

APRP67 is an association dedicated to the welfare and protection of parrots. It helps private individuals comply with new legislation concerning the keeping of psittacines. Its shelter takes in and re-homes abandoned birds, under the responsibility of specialist Pascale Gangloff. Although the shelter is not open to the public, the association can be contacted by e-mail or by telephone via its website. Thanks to the commitment and expertise of its members, APRP67 plays a valuable role in the protection of these sensitive animals.

The LPO is the first point of contact if you find an injured or sick bird in town, but it is also a very active association. Thanks to its volunteer members, the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux Alsace offers you a very rich agenda of events to discover the poultry fauna of our region. For example, you can go and observe in the Ried, take photo courses or courses to monitor and count species in your garden, attend conferences, help wildlife... Books are regularly published.

Born in 2004, biobernai, the organic agriculture fair in Alsace is organized by Alsace Bio, with the support of private and institutional partners, in the user-friendly spirit of a large open-air market at the feet of the ramparts of Obernai (Alsace/Bas-Rhin). The event invites visitors to familiarize themselves with the universe and «organic culture», to meet and exchange with the actors of the sector, from the producer to the distributor, craftsmen to the organizations, associations and institutions working to defend and make the voice of this fast growing mode of consumption more and more popular by consumers. A vector of a different theme each year, highlighting emerging trends of society and consumption, biobernai also embodies the humanistic values of cooperation, sharing, solidarity, equity and ethics giving it a special and appealing image to an enlightened audience, more and more in the way of the editions. Since its launch, the event has welcomed over 250,000 visitors (since 2015 between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors each year). 260 exhibitors present, + 70 animations (conferences, workshops, animations).

Open since 2014, the Bas-Rhin delegation actively evolves around the young beneficiaries thanks to the ongoing support of the team of volunteers. Its apartment-relais, located not far from Strasbourg city center, can accommodate 4 young LGBTI victims of homophobia and transphobia or made homeless by their parents or families. A wide range of activities are offered to these young people, who also benefit from support with all their social, professional and administrative formalities, with the aim of offering them a new life and leading them towards independence. Numerous volunteers offer their time to support them and help them get back on their feet.

Founded in 1945, Secours Populaire Français is active in Colmar and the rest of France, providing food and clothing, housing, healthcare, social and professional integration and access to rights for all. Secours Populaire helps people in precarious situations to find support and assistance. Equal support enables the most disadvantaged to find solutions to get back on their feet. The Colmar branch particularly welcomes people in distress, facing problems of poverty and insecurity. True to the motto of Secours français, "Everything human is ours", it strives to achieve its solidarity objectives in the best possible way, lending a helping hand to those who are unfortunately losing their footing in their daily lives.

It is an association that develops projects that aim to change the way people look at the world of the street and encourage "getting together" between neighbours with and without homes, for a more inclusive society. It is developing Le Carillon, which aims to raise awareness among shopkeepers of the issue of extreme poverty. They offer small, free, everyday services to homeless people or people in extreme poverty (using the wifi, making an emergency call, reading the newspaper, getting a glass of water, etc.) or products that can be offered or "put on hold" by customers, based on the model of a hanging coffee. A great solidarity initiative!

This association promotes the defence and well-being of wild animals and companies without distinction. It undertakes both in a fight against animal testing and animal testing in general, as well as in promoting secured luggage racks for cats in the nantais city bicycles. One Voice does not want to "humanize" the conditions of captivity and treatment of animals in laboratories, farms or slaughterhouses, for recreation or the company of humans, or for their clothing. For One Voice the objective is the absolute right of animals to respect that must be recognized. To achieve this objective, the Association pursues missions in four fields of action: health without torture, food and clothing without barbarism, leisure and company without violence, ethics. One Voice is an independent 100% structure that works only thanks to the generosity of its donors. In order to preserve its freedom of speech and action, the association does not receive subsidies from the State or contributions from companies. An association to support absolutely!