Onet Foundation: A Look Back at the 10th Annual Solidarity and Housing Day

For the10th consecutive year, the Onet Foundation organized its Solidarity and Housing Day on September 17. Several community service initiatives were carried out in five cities across France: Paris, Metz, Lyon, Chartres, and Marseille. Employees of the Onet Group joined forces to support the Foundation’s efforts, alongside volunteers from other organizations, to renovate facilities designed to provide shelter for the most vulnerable. 

Substandard housing at the heart of the Onet Foundation’s initiatives

Founded in 2010, the Onet Foundation aims to support initiatives that promote solidarity and combat substandard housing. To contribute to human development in a healthy and safe environment, it relies on the commitment of Onet Group employees and the development of partnerships with nonprofit organizations. The Foundation implements initiatives to help people in precarious situations improve their housing, provide them with access to hygiene and food assistance, and help them rebuild their social lives. In France, more than 4 million people suffer from substandard housing every day, and nearly 10 million people live in precarious conditions.

The 10th edition, marked by solidarity and sharing

Since 2010, thethird Friday in September has been dedicated to solidarity. For this10th edition, nearly 100 employees responded to the Foundation’s call for projects: Solidarity and Housing Day. They took part in renovation projects.

A true highlight, this event brings together three forms of sponsorship: financial sponsorship, with the Onet Foundation covering the cost of supplies; in-kind sponsorship, with cleaning supplies donated by agencies in the Onet network and founding members of the Onet Foundation; and skills-based sponsorship, with employees from the service group volunteering throughout the day.

Once again this year, thanks to the efforts of project leaders, several organizations were able to benefit from this support: Les Apprentis d’Auteuil in Marseille and Chartres, the Terre d’Asile Association in Paris, the Salvation Army Foundation and the Association du Foyer Notre-Dame des Sans-Abris in Lyon, and Les Restos du Cœur in Marseille.

Alain Maurice, president of Restos du cœur for Western Moselle, adds: “Cleaning is essential wherever we serve our beneficiaries. The teams at the Onet Foundation have also provided us with supplies and paint worth 200 euros, which is a godsend.”

Solidarity and Housing Day is an opportunity to bring together all Onet Group employees around simple yet meaningful initiatives: 

“Some participants are cleaning staff and have real expertise in cleaning. But there are also others from the retail and finance sectors, among others. Not all of them are cleaning experts, but they’re all united in their desire to help,” notes Julien Le Coq, Regional Director for the East.

This event is organized on a volunteer basis. For the 2021 edition, the Onet Group has decided to provide the entire day off to employees who participate, in order to support their volunteer efforts. Onet believes that by working together, we can make a difference for others, for everyone, and for the community. This partnership with the Onet Foundation is part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Projects in detail

  • In Chartres, 10 Onet employees visited the “Le Bercail” shelter run by Les Apprentis d’Auteuil, located north of André Gagnon Park, to renovate the walls of an apartment alongside some of the shelter’s residents, with whom they had the pleasure of sharing lunch. About 40 families (pregnant women or mothers with their children) are housed in this shelter to help them develop personalized plans and break out of their social isolation.
  • In Lyon, 32 employees from the group cleaned and refurbished part of the Centre les Grandes Voisines, which is jointly managed by Foyer Notre Dame des Sans Abris and the Salvation Army Foundation. With the support of the beneficiaries and volunteers from the aforementioned organizations, a total of about 100 people worked on this project.
  • In Chartres, 10 Onet employees visited the “Le Bercail” shelter run by Les Apprentis d’Auteuil, located north of André Gagnon Park, to renovate the walls of an apartment alongside some of the shelter’s residents, with whom they had the pleasure of sharing lunch. About 40 families (pregnant women or mothers with their children) are housed in this shelter to help them develop personalized plans and break out of their social isolation.
  • In Lyon, 32 employees from the group cleaned and refurbished part of the Centre les Grandes Voisines, which is jointly managed by Foyer Notre Dame des Sans Abris and the Salvation Army Foundation. With the support of the beneficiaries and volunteers from the aforementioned organizations, a total of about 100 people worked on this project.
  • In Marseille, Group employees have been working at two sites to renovate facilities designed to serve vulnerable populations:

– The renovation of a Restos du Cœur day center in the3rd arrondissement. About forty people were involved in this project (Onet employees, senior students from Lycée Pastré-Grande Bastide, and Restos du Cœur volunteers) to help clean the premises (scrubbing walls, washing windows, and painting). An Onet team composed of experienced cleaning staff also stepped in to restore the entire ground-floor flooring using a floor scrubber. This represents a valuable contribution to the social and solidarity economy, as Onet directly applies its professional expertise to support a worthy cause. “The volunteers have contributed to a true rebirth of our center. The entire ADJ RESTOS du COEUR team is very grateful for their efficient, energetic, and cheerful dedication! ” emphasizes Jacqueline Bastet-Baudeau, Director of the Restos du cœur day center.

– The renovation of the communal kitchen at the “Halte des Parents” center run by the Apprentis d’Auteuil in the4th arrondissement. A total of about thirty people helped paint the common area. Furniture was also provided by the Onet Foundation and assembled by Onet employees. These activities took place in a spirit of camaraderie and good cheer; six mothers who use the Halte were eager to get involved alongside the employees by preparing their own dishes for lunch. Four volunteers from Apprentis d’Auteuil were also on site to participate in the day’s activities. “We thank all the employees who were present, who were able to build connections with everyone! Thank you for organizing this, which ensured the day went as smoothly as possible! This first experience was enriching and makes us want to do it again!” explains Sylvie Davieau , Director of La Halte des Parents.

  • In Metz, about twenty Onet employees worked at one site in the morning and another in the afternoon to provide assistance to two organizations. The morning was dedicated to the Restos du Cœur in Woippy, followed by the Restos du Cœur in Metz in the afternoon. The tasks included washing floors and windows and scrubbing walls. This project received support from four Onet agencies in the Eastern region, teams from the Metz Regional Office, as well as in-kind sponsorship in the form of two donated vacuum cleaners.
  • In Paris, about a dozen employees volunteered with the organization France Terre d’Asile to renovate three apartments (in Saint-Denis in the 93rd department, Clamart in the 92nd department, and in the19th arrondissement) intended to house migrants

Solidarity and Housing Day is:

  • Nearly 200 volunteers signed up in 2021
  • 1,700 volunteers have been involved with the Foundation since 2011
  • 11,900 hours dedicated to the completion of 72 projects since 2011