Nearly 500 volunteers braved the cold to distribute baskets of food to 200 homes in order to bring a little “warmth” to the holiday season of the people concerned.
“The face of poverty has changed a lot,” says Mélanie Bourgeois, a single mother of three girls who benefited from a Christmas basket this year. She has a full-time job in a community organization, but she still has difficulty providing for her daughters.
“The increase in the price of groceries, yes, but also the increase in the price of housing is significant,” she expresses, “more than 50% of my salary is dedicated to housing.”
For the 20th year, the Pignon Bleu Christmas Baskets operation was held at the Ferland Plus Metro station in Marais on Sunday. Volunteers from the organization and Panthers football players, the Mérici college team were present on the ground to fill the trunks of the cars of the volunteers who take care of the distribution.
Volunteers, including players from the Cégep Mérici Panthères football team, helped prepare and transport the food.
Photo: Sarah-Jeanne Tremblay
Each family gets a grocery store containing fresh, non-perishable foods as well as gifts for all members of the family. “We distribute a full grocery package for the entire month because we know that other food security organizations will close during the holiday season,” explains Roseline Roussel, general director of Pignon bleu.
Hundreds of volunteers lined up in their cars on Sunday to wait for the food they will distribute to a family in need.
Photo: Sarah-Jeanne Tremblay
“We want families to have food not only for New Year’s Eve, but for the entire month,” she adds.
Growing demand
Again this year, the number of requests has almost doubled, according to Ms. Roussel. With food insecurity growing in the Quebec region, the organization has decided, in addition to the Christmas Baskets operation, to add an emergency service which will allow, in the coming days, “to further help more families than supported families,” according to the director of Pignon Bleu.
“With the basket it’s always a surprise,” explains Mélanie Bourgeois. She mentions that the basket also allows you to buy certain things that are difficult to afford at other times. “When you don't have to think about the basics like toilet paper, you can focus more on fresh produce or things like snacks that I normally can't afford. » illustrates, Ms. Bourgeois.
