262 winter coats given to those in need in Montreal North – with the help of a NBA star

NBA player and Montreal native Bennedict Mathurin is giving back with his family by providing winter coats and other essential seasonal items to over 250 young participants of the Un Itinéraire Pour Tous program.

This non-profit works to improve the lives of those in Montreal North and fight poverty.

Families came bright and early to pick up much-needed gear, just as the weather gets colder.

“Basketball is a big thing in Montreal-Nord. So I think that the story of Benedict Mathurin is really inspiring and it’s going to inspire a lot of kids. And hopefully they can channel all their energy into something positive, like sports to grow and to live a meaningful, successful life,” said Isabelle Laporte, Assistant Director, Un Itinéraire Pour Tous.

Bennedict Mathurin, a Montreal North native and NBA player currently in his third season, is represented by his sister, Jennifer. A former professional basketball player herself, Jennifer is now her brother’s business manager, and they now both live in Indianapolis. During a conversation about their hometown, the siblings reflected on the harsh winters of Montreal, which led to an inspiring idea.

“The idea came up because we were both talking about how cold it gets sometimes in Montreal and how, you know, sometimes you’ll see kids walking around with just like a hoodie in midwinter. So he said, you know, it would be nice to give them coats. And I was like, let’s go,” said Jennifer Mathurin, Mathurin family representative.

“He grew up here. This is our neighborhood. We grew up two streets down. We went to school at Adélard-Desrosiers and the Henri-Bourassa Park is a park we used to play basketball at. So there’s a strong connection here,” added Mathurin.

She was a professional player, and also the coach of the Bishop’s University Gaiters basketball team.

Nathalie Fanfan moved from Haiti to Montreal in 2021, and during her transition, Un Itinéraire Pour Tous provided invaluable support—helping her find an apartment, fill out paperwork, locate a hospital, and enroll her son in school.

Three years later, her gratitude remains strong.

“Oh, I really feel happy because it helps me save money, and I can use that money for other things. So, I think it’s really a good idea to give this to people,” said Nathalie Fanfan, Montrealer.

“We were surprised because we’re not used to this kind of donation back home in Burundi, Africa. Really, we found it to be a great thing for us,” said Eric Mbazumutima, Montrealer.

Un Itinéraire Pour Tous says they would like to continue to lend a helping hand to those in need.

“If you live in Montreal-Nord and you’re a student of Montreal-Nord and you’re looking for services, anything, we’re a good entryway also. Our organization is a good entryway. So come and see us. We’ll figure it out together and try to find you the services you need,” said Laporte.