Food banks running in high gear

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental.ca

For many, the holidays evoke images of snowy landscapes, a Christmas tree with presents beneath its branches, and a bountiful meal complete with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and all the other fixings. However, this picture does not come true for everyone.

“The reputation in the West Island is that everything is OK. But there’s definitely more of an increase than a decrease [in need] every year,” said Eric Tetreault, the director of the West Island Mission (WIM). Since it was established in February 2005, WIM has gone from providing needy families and individuals 249 food baskets in 2005 in the West Island to 971 last year. WIM has three basket campaigns throughout the year – during the holidays, Easter, and back to school – and also helps people through its emergency food service on request. According to the WIM website www.wimmoi.com), the non-profit organization currently helps 353 households, or about 1,265 individuals.

“Our criteria is, if they’re hungry, we’ll feed them,” Tetreault said, adding people may find themselves in a temporary situation and just need help until things improve.

With its Christmas basket campaign in full swing, Tetreault said WIM is looking for food, monetary donations, and volunteers to help put together and deliver the baskets.

“The theme this year is, contribute and participate,” he said. After completing the list and double-checking for duplication with other food banks, Tetreault estimates WIM will have about 350 Christmas basket deliveries to do. “We need a lot of people.”

The amount of food people receive in the baskets depends on the size of the household. Children 12 years old and under will also receive a Christmas present, so WIM is always looking for donated goods, like toys, clothing, and toiletries as well.

The baskets, which include everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and bread, to canned goods and dried pasta, will all be assembled on Friday. Volunteers will meet on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. at Westview Bible Church in Pierrefonds to deliver the baskets.

“We’ll probably need 100 plus vehicles to deliver the baskets at that time,” Tetreault said.

Personal touches

Over at the West Island Assistance Fund (WIAF) in Roxboro, things are just as busy.

Last week, the organization’s director, François Gince, said they already had about 400 Christmas basket requests. With last year’s final number reaching 663, Gince said he is expecting the requests to keep going up. The WIAF matches needy families and individuals with volunteers, who get in touch with each other to find out what is needed.

“The objective is to personalize the baskets. The people will buy things that the families will really appreciate. And sometimes it even goes further than that,” Gince said, adding last year some volunteers were so touched by the families’ stories that they went ahead and bought gifts and clothes as well.

However, Gince said with many volunteers wanting to help families with young children, it can be difficult to find people to match with one-person households.

“That can be hard. A lot of the donors seem to want to help families. But, for example, we help seniors and single moms, too. They often need more, because they only have one source of income,” Gince said. “That’s going to be our hard work over the next weeks.”

Throughout the week of Dec. 17, needy people will also be able to pick up children’s gifts at the WIAF’s offices.

“We need new gifts for children between one and 12 years old,” Gince said. “Our meeting room here will be transformed into a Santa Claus land, but we’re still missing some gifts.”

Need is year-long

West Islander Laura Cadieux said food banks have helped her so much over the past years. Cadieux, who is diabetic and needs a wheelchair, recently had to move into a bigger apartment to take care of her son, who is schizophrenic.

“It’s a very good organization. It does me a lot of good,” said Cadieux of the help she has received from WIM. She also said she hopes to give back to the organization once she has some more money. “They’re down to earth people. They’re very nice and very kind.”

With many people in the spirit of giving at this time of year, both Gince and Tetreault said the need is there all year round.

“We’re always looking for food,” Gince said, adding it’s the only way the WIAF can provide help to needy people throughout the year.

Tetreault said, while the holiday season is the most popular time to give and volunteer, the back to school season is the toughest on people.

“I wish people were in the spirit of giving in August, too,” he said.

To find out more about WIM, check www.wimmoi.com or call 514-912-6813.

For more on WIAF, call 514-683-0456.