AS Saint-Étienne is preparing an event which could well make people talk about it other than through its sporting results. In the shadow of the Cauldron, the club is fomenting something new that contrasts with the usual Greens news. An action which fits perfectly with the times, but which has not yet made the headlines of the national press.
This Thursday, October 16, 2025, ASSE is organizing its first solidarity run against student food insecurity, Place Jean-Jaurès in Saint-Étienne. An initiative supported by the club's “Vert l'Avenir” approach, which partners with Délivraide, an association specializing in the free delivery of food kits to students in difficulty.
A little-known scourge affecting Saint-Étienne
The figures are alarming: 34% of French students regularly skip meals due to lack of money. In Saint-Étienne, where the poverty rate reaches 28% of the population, this reality takes on a particular dimension. More than one in three students say they sometimes skip a meal, and more than one in four plan to stop attending school due to lack of funds.
The Délivraide association, present in 13 French cities, has already distributed more than 50,000 meals since its creation. Each food kit, worth around 50 euros, includes essential foodstuffs and can last several days.
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Casino strengthens its historic commitment
This run is part of the renewed partnership between ASSE and the Casino group, which has lasted for 92 years. Beyond simple sponsorship with the logo on the pre-game jerseys, Casino makes a concrete commitment by delivering essential foodstuffs to the most vulnerable students.
Thomas Granger, communications manager for the Greens, presents this action as “a great opportunity to run in a good mood, while contributing to a useful collection.”
The event offers two courses of 5 and 8 kilometers, with the only condition being that you bring a non-perishable food item.
A mobilization that is being organized
The run takes place “afterwork” to create a friendly dynamic between Stéphanois. Refreshments and musical ambiance are planned at the Six Nations after the race, while a raffle offers opportunities to win a post-match experience or a signed jersey.
The initiative does not stop there: a second collection will take place on Saturday October 18 on the stadium square before the ASSE–Le Mans match. This action is part of the Professional Football League's call for solidarity for students in precarious situations, around the 10th day of Ligue 2.
A great way for ASSE to show that its Green Future program is not just aiming for carbon neutrality by 2040, but is also concretely committed to making the club “ an ever stronger vector of inclusion, respect and social progress.”
