As the holidays approach, requests for food aid increase in Montreal

Requests for food aid are increasing this year and organizations in Montreal have even extended their opening hours for the holiday season, while others have had to redouble their efforts to make Christmas baskets.

Moisson Montréal, which will close its doors on December 23 for the holiday period, will however be accessible on the 27th for organizations wishing to pick up food.

What we can already notice is that usually, each year, we have perhaps 20, 25 organizations that come to collect food [à cette date-là]. But as of Friday morning, there were 48 who had confirmed their presencenotes the general director of Moisson Montréal, Chantal Vézina.

In the metropolis, nearly 240,000 people now need food aid.

In Brossard, the traditional distribution of Knights of Columbus Christmas baskets took place from Friday to Sunday. Robert Bergevin and his team had to work hard this year. Like every year, the organization prepares their traditional Christmas baskets which they distribute over the weekend.

Compared to last year, Robert Bergevin, one of the members of the organization, notes a grosse augmentation of demand. We started with 25, 30, 35 baskets, then we reached 42 baskets. And I see surpluses to perhaps make a 43rd or 44th Christmas baskethe believes.

Among the people who benefit from these foods, Mr. Bergevin notes that there are many new arrivals and large families, like that of Vanessa McDuff, who has six children.

I heard there was a turkey, and it's still expensive. Then, I also told myself that with this we will be able to cook several mealsshe says, holding one of her kids in her arms. It'll take some stress away from us, I can't wait to see.

“The needs are increasing so much”

The charitable organization Moisson Montréal collects donations of food and essential products throughout the year and distributes them free of charge to 292 community organizations on the island of Montreal, thanks in particular to extremely generous donors and to extremely involved partnersunderlines Chantal Vézina.

The general director, however, affirms that she receives “on an ongoing basis” requests from organizations that would like to be accredited by Moisson Montréal.

We would like to be able to accept all organizations on the territory. But even if we have been able to donate more foodstuffs in recent years, the needs are increasing so much that we do not want to take away foodstuffs from organizationsshe explains.

If demand continues to increase constantly, the question will be how we will be able to continue at this rate.asks Ms. Vézina.

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With information from Raphaëlle Drouin