The second collection of the Grande guignolée of the media of the South Shore, victim of a theft at the end of December, made it possible to raise $67,000 in donations and to provide around fifty additional boxes to local organizations, announced Thursday the person responsible for the event.
“People have been extraordinarily generous! » declared Mr. Jean-Marie Girard, founding president of La grande Guignolée des media de la Rive-Sud, in a press release on Thursday.
The day before, a new donation drive was carried out by dozens of volunteers at the corner of several arteries in Saint-Lambert, on the South Shore of Montreal. Throughout the day, food donations also accumulated in the warehouse which had been the victim of theft at the end of December.
Citizens, businesses, as well as the mayor of Saint-Lambert, Pascale Mongrain, contributed to compensate for the theft of around fifty boxes intended for disadvantaged families.
“People are so generous, and they are outraged! », underlined Mme Mongrain, met Wednesday evening in the Grande Guignolée warehouse. For her, the citizen mobilization to replenish the coffers of the Grande Guignolée was “concrete proof of our sense of community”.
“In Saint-Lambert, we stand together. People help each other, greet each other in the street. It’s a collective effort! “, she said.
A goal achieved and exceeded
The goal was to raise $10,000 and the equivalent in food, explained to The Press, Wednesday, Herman Champagne, one of the volunteer organizers behind this collective effort. The results are therefore well beyond expectations.
“It’s difficult for me to express how proud I am of this memorable day! », added Mr. Girard on Thursday. The 83-year-old man has been responsible for collection on the South Shore since 2002. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the volunteers who spontaneously responded to the call,” he added.
“What pride to be able to count on such remarkable people,” rejoiced Mr. Champagne, the day after this special collection.
The donations and foodstuffs collected by the South Shore Media Drive are redistributed to around twenty organizations in the region to support disadvantaged individuals and families. Police surveillance around the warehouse loaned to the South Shore Media Drive has been increased to ensure security, Mr. Girard said on Wednesday.