AP PHOTOS: Meals for Paris' marginalized amid coronavirus
Posted April 04, 2020 7:00 am
PARIS (AP) - Amid the coronavirus lockdown in France, charity workers are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor.
France's Aurore association, a charity dating back to the 19th century, has been serving meals at the former Saint Vincent de Paul hospital since March 24, a week into the nationwide confinement to stem the spread of the virus.
Part of the complex was converted in 2015 to host non-profits and artisans, a day center for asylum-seekers and three transitional housing centers. Florie Gaillard, who works for the association, said everyone who lives in the transitional housing is under confinement there, the offices are closed, and the usual crowd at the day center is in shelters. But the need is still there.
'œThere was an entire informal economy that existed before that is no longer there,'ť said Gaillard. 'œPeople who begged, or who knew which restaurant would give them a meal at the end of the evening, were in need.'ť
An Associated Press photographer spent an afternoon this week chronicling the Aurore center, from the researcher who volunteers to fill the days since losing access to her university to the aid recipients who, for various reasons, have nowhere else to go.
There are two spaces: one for meals, which accepts around 300 people a day and sends out a thousand pre-packed bags for local charities to distribute, and the day center. The latter can only accept 70 people at a time in compliance with France's rules on keeping individuals distanced from each other.
Both are crucial, say those who come for the temporary help.
'œWe're on a slippery slope,'ť said one of the men. 'œWe climb, we climb and when we reach the top we slide back down.'ť
A volunteer stands in the office at the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Homeless people share food in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A volunteer helps fill out documents in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A man takes a rest in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Homeless people arrive in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A volunteer carries a tea distribution machine in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A man reads a book in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A volunteer helps to clean the clothes of homeless and migrants in the "Aurore" center in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A volunteer cleans a room at "Aurore" reception center to support homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Chief of project Alice, third left, attends a debrief meeting with the team of volunteers at the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Volunteers prepare food in the kitchens of the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Volunteers prepare food bags for distribution in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Volunteers prepare food bags for distribution in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A volunteer delivers a bag of food in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Homeless people after receiving food at the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Men take a rest and eat food in the "Aurore" center for homeless and migrants in Paris, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, charity workers at France's Aurore association, are preparing more than a thousand meals a day for migrants and the homeless on the half-abandoned grounds of a former Paris hospital whose patron saint was devoted to the poor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
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