Both the general director of Bouchée generous and his assistant were unable to hold back their tears on Friday when they talked about what the organization’s move to its temporary premises located in the former Sears garage, next door, represented. from Place Fleur de Lys.
“I started at 290 lbs and dropped to 237,” joked Pierre Gravel. The general director thus illustrated the weight that had been lifted from his shoulders the day before, when his beneficiaries came to collect their food from the new facility for the first time.
1076 baskets were distributed on Thursday. A number similar to what is usually provided to families in need, but the distribution proved to be much more efficient, said the deputy director, Marie-Pier Gravel.
In discretion
People were able to line up inside, not only sheltered from possible bad weather, but also from view, which offered them a certain discretion.
“No one will be able to point at them and say: ‘Look, poor people coming to get food,’ when that’s not it,” she said. These are workers who experience difficulties at times in their lives.”
The old premises, located about a kilometer from the new location, had become too cramped to accommodate more than 1,000 people every Thursday who come to collect food.
175 volunteers required
The organization therefore launched calls for help a few months ago to find new temporary premises. They were heard by businessman William Trudel, founding president and CEO of Trudel.
The latter set up a committee which made it possible to find a solution for the organizing committee. He also helped find 175 volunteers for the move.
“We will be able to offer more food in a better quality location. We have an additional cold room which allows us to store more fruit, more dairy products,” pointed out M.me Gravel.
A gift for the beneficiaries
Friday’s inauguration day was marked by the arrival of eight players from the Los Angeles Kings, including Quebecer Phillip Danault, who helped out by unloading trucks and filling boxes with food.
Beyond the visibility that the visit of National Hockey League players can provide to his organization, Pierre Gravel was delighted to have been able to offer this gift to its beneficiaries, who “do not have the means to go and see hockey.
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