Food drive in Pointe-Claire aims to help the most vulnerable

On Sunday, a food drive took place at the Olive-Urquhart Centre in Pointe-Claire. The goal, to help the community’s most vulnerable.

The project is a collaboration between the West Island YMCA and the Table de quartier sud de l’Ouest-de-l’Île.

With many facing food insecurity, initiatives like these are essential.

“It’s really important, especially now, because there are a lot of people in need, and the organizations have to kind of make cuts. So we’re trying to help them gather food items to help as many people as we can, because you never really know who is in need,” said Marie-Ève Lemaire St-Gelais, food security coordinator for Table de quartier sud de l’Ouest-de-l’Île (TQSOI).

TQSOI is a non-profit community organization that aims to improve the quality of life of the citizens of the southern West Island in Montreal. It facilitates a roundtable and unites the citizens, elected officials from all three levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal), community organizations as well as businesses and institutions.

Those donating brought non-perishable items – as well as personal hygiene products.

Laurel Leduc donated to the food drive and spoke about the importance of doing so.

“Hunger is getting higher and higher; people need [help]. Even students, for example, say that they are using food banks more. So if I can do it, I can, and I’m glad I can,” said Leduc.

The donations will be redistributed to local community organizations and added to their inventory to help those who need it most.