Food aid as the holidays approach: Needs “greater than ever”

Food, clothing and furniture. Needs are greater than ever in Quebec’s Saint-Vincent-de-Paul region, which is asking residents to donate generously as the holidays approach.

Food aid has increased. “We now cover 33,000 beneficiaries with food aid annually,” says Jean-Luc Lavoie, president of the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul-de-Québec Association.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, demand for traditional Christmas baskets is also skyrocketing.

“We have gone from 8,000 baskets last year to 10,000 this year, but the demand will be 12,000,” the president explained on the occasion of the launch of the 162nd edition of the Guignélée de la Saint-Vincent-de-Paul on Saturday morning.

Credit: Nicolas St. Pierre

“The needs are stark and we must certainly expand our donor pool as fewer people have the means to donate, so I implore all supermarkets in the Quebec region to be generous to charitable organizations as the holidays approach.” he added.

“He’s never seen anything like it.”

The latter also explains that inflation and high interest rates have pushed many people below the poverty line, forcing them to turn to supportive organizations to survive.

“The needs are greater than ever. During the pandemic, their numbers were huge, but many people were on the poverty line and then fell.

“In many cases, these are people with jobs and retirees who have worked their whole lives, which is really unheard of,” he adds.

Different needs

He also points to an alarming 85% increase last year in requests for help to buy clothes or furniture.

Until December 31, hundreds of volunteers will be present throughout Greater Quebec and the Chaudière-Appalachia region collecting donations of cash or non-perishable foods as part of “La Guignolée qui fait la Difference.”

Credit: Nicolas St. Pierre

It is also possible to donate online at makethedifference.ca