Over the past year, inflation has spurred a 25% increase in demand for their services, underscoring the growing need for assistance. Notably, even individuals with jobs are increasingly turning to these social grocery shops for support, a trend observed by staff at the “Cent Buttek” in Bettembourg.
To be able to shop at a social grocery shop, residents need to have the appropriate card, which also indicates the size of the household. To ensure equitable distribution, volunteers oversee the fair allocation of food items. While customers typically contribute a nominal fee of €2, Arthur Besch, president of the non-profit association “Cent Buttek,” highlights cases where some households are unable to afford this amount. In such instances, the Social Office explicitly specifies on the card that the €2 fee should be waived, as the person in question cannot raise the sum.
The beneficiaries of these services encompass a diverse range of profiles, including job seekers and those in the process of obtaining disability pensions. Most of the customers interviewed by our colleagues from RTL Radio for this report did not wish to be recorded. Some of them said they were unable to pay all their bills despite being employed.
The “Cent Buttek” in Bettembourg alone serves approximately 500 families monthly, benefiting around 1,800 people in total. The association operates additional shops in Luxembourg City and Pétange, with volunteers collecting food donations from approved supermarkets. Nevertheless, Besch laments that this collection alone is no longer sufficient, compelling the non-profit “Cent Buttek” to purchase food itself to meet the growing demand. Volunteers express concerns about the sustainability of this approach.
Besch advocates for a comprehensive reform of social policy “to somehow put an end to this misery – and it really can be referred to as misery.”
