Zainab Al-Mehdar
Shawville Jan. 18, 2022
On Jan. 18 Giant Tiger donated 3,500 to Bouffe Pontiac as part of their national food bank drive campaign. Store Manager Brandyn Gauthier was also pleased to be donating 75 bags each containing 15-pounds of potatoes.
“I think everything we can do to help people, especially through . . .
these pandemic times, goes a long way for a family in need,” said Gauthier who attributed the efforts to their customers and staff who were able to raise a sizable amount.
The money was collected over thanksgiving when cashiers asked community members if they wanted to round up their transaction. “To this day we are at $9,900 just for their Bouffe Pontiac, since I took over the store in August 2020,” said Gauthier.
The giant department store in the Pontiac has been supporting Bouffe Pontiac for almost four years straight, pointed out Executive Director, Kim Laroche. She noted that they have always had a good partnership with Giant Tiger.
She proudly highlighted that every donation they get goes towards feeding the community, and not only that but everything they purchase is bought locally. “If we have to buy pies for Christmas, we go to our local bakery,” said Laroche.
With the pandemic looming over the region Laroche highlighted that even with how difficult the past few years have been, she has felt the support of the community and since the creation of their organization in 2006, that feeling has never faltered. “It just shows us that the community still believes in our mission and that they still want to help us after so many years.”
When asked what she hopes the new year brings, Laroche, reminisced on the days when people could walk into their office and sit down to talk to staff and other community members. “A lot of our clients are isolated, and before the pandemic, if they wanted to talk to someone they could just drop by, but nowadays they don’t have that.”
She explained that she hopes things can go back to being safe and they can open their doors to the community again.
