Water main burst floods West Island food bank, destroying food and Christmas gifts for families

A Montreal West Island community organization dedicated to fighting food insecurity was flooded last week after a water main burst under the building.

On Rock Community Services says the Sept. 24 water main burst followed a freezer malfunction earlier in the same month.

The basement of the community organization, which stores non-perishable food items, goods, and Christmas gifts for families, was filled with water.

WATCH: Flooding at On Rock Community Services after pipe bursts

“We lost over 1,200 kilograms, probably between $80,000 and $100,000 in food,” said On Rock Community Services founder Kim Reid.

“The parking lot was a lake. The water was gushing out from a doorway, just inside the foyer, which sent water into the basement.”

Reid adds that for four days the organization, which sees over 300 families weekly, was without water.

“We can’t stop doing business,” he said. “We’re feeding families. We can’t do that.”

Open Gallery 6 items

Reid’s daughter Kayla said their mission is to help the community, and though these events were a giant hit to the organization, as their grocery store and restaurant additions are in construction with minimal water damage, their spirits remain high.

“That day was actually a day that we serve clients, it was kind of like, OK, our doors open at two o’clock, how do we make that still happen,” she said.

“We had no power, we had no water, and our basement was flooding, and we’re going, how do we still serve our clients at two o’clock.”

She said despite the chaos, they were able to still feed each family as damage control was in protocol.

Kim Reid said they are back in operation and looking to the public and Montreal West island community for monetary and food donations, adding his philosophy is to move forward from challenges like this.

“I have no idea where we’re going. It’s where we’re at,” he said. “Is that going to be the end of it, maybe? Or maybe there’s another chapter to be written.”