Zainab Al-Mehdar
Pontiac Nov 24, 2021
This year’s annual Christmas baskets organized by Bouffe Pontiac are getting an extra helping hand from Sûreté du Québec of the MRC Pontiac.
“We’re there to help and we want to try to do good. If we can do something good each day per person. Our job is done,” said Martin Parent, Director at Sûreté du Québec.
In a press . . .
release members of the Sûreté du Québec announced that they are collaborating with Bouffe Pontiac and helping with the collection of food at their station that will be used towards the baskets to be handed out to the community members this holiday season.
One of the reasons the police department offered to help was because they noticed the non-profit organization had to cancel their food drive, which is an event they usually participate in every year.
“It’s just a matter of what else can we do and how else can we help?” said Parent
This year and the past year, explained Executive Director, Kim Laroche, have been especially difficult for volunteers who were parents and elders which made retention rates really low. One direct effect was cancelling their annual food drive, which is one of the aspects that helps the organization fundraise for the Christmas baskets which were cancelled due to a shortlist of volunteers, and risk of contact.
But with all the hurdles, Laroche said “we’re expecting to give around 200 Christmas baskets,” all thanks to the different partnerships such as Pontiac High School, the police department and Foundation Choquette-Legault.
Laroche said the police department’s involvement came at a perfect time since they are still recuperating after many volunteers couldn’t participate as much this year due to COVID-19. When they showed up to her office and asked if they could assist with the food collection at their station, Laroche said she was “relieved” and enthusiastically said yes. In addition, Foundation Choquette-Legault, donated $10,000 to support the organization.
Laroche said the reason she does this work is that she believes eating is the number one basic need that everyone has, and this cause means a lot to her and why she initially got involved three years ago. “The mission of Bouffe Pontiac is always something that I really cared a lot about, which is to help feed the people in need,” said Laroche.
In addition to a food basket, Bouffe Pontiac is partnering up with the Fire Department who is having a Christmas Tree Angel. This partnership will include a toy with a basket for families who have kids, which is why during registration all families will be asked their children’s ages.
To register for the basket, people have to call (819) 648-2550. It will be open till Dec. 10 and people can expect the baskets the week of Dec. 20. For anyone wishing to drop off food donations, the Sûreté du Québec is taking drop-offs at their station, located at 1320 Highway 148, in Campbell’s Bay until December 8, 2021. People can drop off their food items Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If people want to donate via e-transfer, they can by sending it to the organization’s email bouffepontiac@yahoo.fr.
