The first food bank in my area was set up as a charity by one of the churches and then and now a referral was required.
Initially it was intended as an emergency measure ... now they are a necessity.
By your description I think you are correct that France has one over on us if the organisation is based on entitlement.
The first Food Banks in France were set up by Catholic Charities some seventy years ago when things were often dire. They are much better organised these days and the local Communes are now involved. Much of this was to do with the obscene waste of food when people were going hungry.
The Commune bench mark is 716 Euros per month for the next six months and the local Marie issues a ticket for that period, if you qualify.
My Pension is also affected by the Exchange Rate which hasn't been good for several years, but that is to do with a weak Pound, and nothing to do with The Euro.
No UK Expat in France gets The Winter Fuel Allowance anymore, and no UK Benefits are available to Expats.
French State Pensions are far superior to UK and people generally are horrified by the amount that UK Pensioners are expected to live on.
Some people come and go, depending on being temporarily out of work.
The people who man these stations are mainly elderly volunteers, but there are paid organisers who collect donations and sell by date food, which all goes into freezers.
There is quite a lot of organisation involved.
I am simply grateful.