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10/09/2008
Walk with us on October 8th !
Year after year, Centraide launches the beginning of its fundraising campaign with the « Marche aux 1 000 parapluies » (March of 1000 umbrellas). Join Moisson Montreal's team next October 8th and walk along with other community agencies served by Centraide. It must be pointed out that Centraide provides more than 20% of Moisson Montreal's funding and has done so for almost 20 years now.
March of 1000 umbrellas
12:00 to 1:00 pm (meeting point at 11:30 am)
Montreal (corner of McGill and Sainte-Catherine)
To register or to register a group or a school, please contact us !
To view other Moisson Montreal events.
10/09/2008
Unexpected donation of meat
Thanks to the hard work of « l’Association québécoise des banques alimentaires et Moissons » (AQBAM), the 18 food banks in the province will receive approximately 300 000 kilograms of pork. During the summer, pork producers announced that they would like to give the meat to food banks, but needed money in order to do so. The « Fondation Tirelire » (Piggybank Foundation) and the federal government were able to defray the costs of slaughtering the animals. However, an additional $400 000 were needed for the transformation of the meat into minced pork.
The Quebec government finally endorsed the project so that this rare and protein-rich food could be given to families in need. Moisson Montreal, who will benefit from approximately 118 500 kilograms of minced pork, will receive the frozen meat divided into small portions in the next few weeks.
10/09/2008
A golf tournament for charity
For a second year, Moisson Montreal received $3500 collected at the Sobey's golf tournament for IGA merchants. This sum will be used exclusively for buying foodstuffs for families in need.
14/08/2008
Urgent need for volunteers
Last May, Moisson Montreal launched a campaign aimed at finding those who will donate their time in order to recruit volunteers for the summer. Summer vacations are in full swing right now, but hunger, unfortunately, does not get time off. Tuesdays are particularly difficult this summer since, on top of the daily sorting operations, we must now also do the work necessary for the Good Food Box program. Every week, boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables must be prepared and delivered rapidly to the families who need them.
Fifteen extra volunteers, in addition to the 30 to 40 required for daily sorting of the foodstuffs, are needed on Tuesdays. Whether you have only a morning or a whole day to offer us, please communicate with us to find out how you can become a volunteer. We have a large parking lot and we will serve you lunch as our way of saying thanks.
14/08/2008
Celebration with 600 underprivileged children
Last July 17th, 660 youths participating in the Feed the Future program were gathered together for a huge children's day celebration in the park of the Jean-Claude Malépart Centre. This event was held simultaneously in seven other Canadian cities where Feed the Future is in force this year: Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary and Hamilton.
Isabelle Huot, the program spokesperson, took advantage of the situation to host an educational game on nutrition with the children in order to raise their awareness of the pleasures of eating well. Launched by Sodexo in collaboration with Moisson Montreal, Feed the Future allows children from underprivileged families to receive a healthy lunch during the summer.
Last year, a total of 92 000 meals were distributed across the country.
14/08/2008
Exceptional milk donation
For the 8th year, the "Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec" renewed their donation of a half million litres of raw milk to the 18 food banks in the province. After transformation, this leaves 297 887 litres of 3.25% and 2% homogenized milk, 26 175 kg of cheese and 3 471 kg of butter which will be distributed in 2008-2009. The 207 community agencies supplied by Moisson Montreal are happy to be able to distribute this vital foodstuff to needy families again this year.
09/07/2008
Feed the Soul
Between last April 28th and May 25th , Moisson Montreal gladly received from Casey's Grill restaurant · Bar du Marché central de Montréal a most interesting gift. With the purchase of any dish from the special Feed the Soul menu, Casey's gave $1 to our food bank. This campaign was taken up by Casey's restaurants of Quebec and Ontario and $50 000 were collected for food banks and community agencies who were members of the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) and the "Association québécoise des banques alimentaires et des Moissons" (AQBAM). The $1905 collected for Moisson Montreal will be used to buy food that is scarce for the 207 community agencies we serve (canned meat, pasta, rice, flour, etc.).
In the photo : Ferdinand Minga, canvassing manager, Colette D. Cummings, Director of Development for Moisson Montreal, and Jimmy Prattas, owner of the Casey's restaurant at the Marché central in Montreal.
09/07/2008
Leave us a message after the BEEP!
For more than 20 years now, Moisson Montreal's team has been working to improve it's way of doing things. New ideas, new projects, new partners... and now new voice mailboxes! This change may seem trivial, but without a doubt it will allow every employee of the food bank to coordinate the different tasks required of him/her more rapidly. Thanks go out to the UPS Foundation to whom we owe this technological upgrade! A faithful partner, the UPS Foundation supported the development of our volunteer program last year with a donation of $40 000. For the past 4 years, UPS employees have also been coming to Moisson Montreal to volunteer for a day.
09/07/2008
Pierrefonds-Roxboro is mobilizing
Last June 18th, 8 employees of the Verdun borough, including Mayor Monique Worth, and Mr. Bertrand Ward, Council member for the City of Montreal, Mr. Roger Trottier, borough Council member and Mrs. Catherine Clément-Talbot, borough Council member lent us a hand in our warehouse.
Preceded by the boroughs of LaSalle, Verdun and Plateau-Mont-Royal in 2007, we hope that Verdun inspires other boroughs into lending us a hand in 2008! We would like to remind you that Moisson Montreal needs 30 volunteers every day to ensure it's daily operations. In 2007-2008, we were able to count on the precious help of 1700 regular and occasional volunteers, equivalent to 22 full-time employees in terms of number of hours donated.
11/06/2008
Words of hope
Here are a few touching messages filled with hope that can be found in Moisson Montreal's Gold Book created for National Hunger Awareness Day .
"We have been able to generate abundance, but we are not able to manage it. Waste must stop... we must learn to share."
"Poverty is neither a defect, nor a disease, nor is it hereditary. It is the result of unforeseeable circumstances and never is it wished for nor planned!"
"Representatives of all levels of government should return self-worth to those who use food banks by considering them full citizens in their own right."
"Universal mutual aid is, in my opinion, the most effective method of fighting against poverty. Sharing our riches should be an obligation and not a choice."
"Food doesn't only nourish the body. It feeds the spirit, the mind and soul. It brings people together, breaking the barriers of culture, gender and class."
11/06/2008
500 000 portions of Catelli pasta
On May 12th, 2008, Moissson Montreal received, from Catelli, a large quantity of a product in great demand: pasta. Catelli donated no less than 500 000 portions of pasta which will be offered to several Quebec food banks in the next few months through the "Association québécoise des banques alimentaires et Moissons (AQBAM)". Of these, 192 400 portions of pasta will go directly to Moisson Montreal who will distribute them to agencies who aid needy Montreal families. Catelli's donation is of special significance since pasta is a rare foodstuff for food banks. Besides pasta, other nutritious foods are also in demand by the 204 community agencies served by Moisson Montreal : meat, baby products, cooking ingredients as well as canned goods. Calling all businesses who, like Catelli, wish to become a good corporate citizen!
In the photo:
Johanne Théroux, General Manager of Moisson Montreal and Alain Gagnon, Sales Director, Eastern Canada at Ronzoni Foods Canada Corporation, the maker of Catelli pasta.
11/06/2008
Committed students
There is no age for being aware of the issues associated with hunger. Several high school students understand and do not hesitate to help Moisson Montreal throughout the year. Whether it be by sorting foodstuffs in our warehouse for a half-day or a full day or by participating in a charitable event, these young people spread their infectious motivation and drive. Open to the world and hard-working, several also organize food drives in their schools and take advantage of the opportunity to raise awareness in their peers. Thanks to the students and teachers of the Saint-Laurent, Vanguard, du Chêne-Bleu, de la Magdeleine, Espace jeunesse and du Grand-Coteau Schools for the time they have given us in the last year. Thanks also to Vincent Colson, James-Eric Gallant, Samuel Poulin-Leclerc and Marc-André Lemire of the Saint-Louis College, who proudly donated 19.5 kilograms of foodstuffs gathered in a food drive to Ferdinand Minga, in charge of supply at Moisson Montreal (see photo).
14/05/2008
Lotomatique, a WINNING strategy for helping us
In November 1977, the Quebec government, through Loto-Quebec, entrusted non-profit organizations (NPO) with the exclusive right to sell lottery subscriptions through the Lotomatique service. Lotomatique is a service which allows individual or group subscriptions to different lotteries of the Society, while also contributing financially to NPOs without any additional costs.
Therefore, make a donation as you subscribe to chance. For each subscription to Lotomatique either as an individual or as a group, mention our NPO number 603227 as well as the name of Moisson Montreal and you will contribute to our funding. Click here to download the form. The forms are also available at Moisson Montreal or by communicating with Loto-Quebec at
1 866 628-4783.
14/05/2008
Don't let your Dream House pass you by
Participate in BMO Bank of Montreal's Dream House contest and run the chance of winning a prestigious residence valued at $950 000, entirely furnished and decorated, situated at the heart of Villas-sur-Rive in Sainte-Dorothée, Laval, in one of the most remarkable residential projects in Quebec. One $10 ticket gives you three chances of winning. For every ticket sold, Moisson Montreal will receive $5.
The next drawings will be held at the Carrefour Laval shopping center at 1 pm on:
- June 12th 2008
- July 17th 2008
- August 28th 2008
- October 2nd 2008, drawing of the 4 finalists
- October 9th 2008, grand prize drawing
14/05/2008
Saputo gives $50 000 to Moisson Montreal
For the last two years, Saputo and its employees have organized a fund-raising campaign benefitting the "Association québécoise des banques alimentaires et des Moissons" (AQBAM). The money collected is allocated to the Quebec Moissons where Saputo plants are located. The recipients of the 2007-2008 campaign are Moisson Québec, Moisson Beauce, Moisson Laurentides, Moisson Rive-Sud, Moisson Mauricie and Moisson Montreal.
Moisson Montreal received $49 563 from Saputo regarding the 2008 AQBAM campaign. Last year, $53 667 were given. Therefore, in two years, Moisson Montreal received more than $100 000 from Saputo. A wonderful gift that will be added to Moisson Montreal's major fund-raising campaign "Let's Start with Hunger".
04/04/2008
Bruce Springsteen helps Moisson Montreal!
World-famous singer Bruce Springsteen provided Moisson Montreal with two pairs of tickets for box seats as well as passes for the E Street Lounge for his show last March 2nd at the Bell Center. These pairs of tickets were auctioned off for the sum of $750 each. Also, at the end of his show, Bruce Springsteen invited his fans to donate to the food bank to help our organization accomplish its mission. His fans took up the challenge and almost $1000 was collected. Moisson Montreal is very grateful to Bruce Springsteen for using his fame to manifest his support for the humanitarian cause we are fighting for.
04/04/2008
$18 000 more for the "Let's Start with Hunger" fund-raising drive
Last March 17th, the members of the board of directors of the BMO Employee Charitable Foundation gave a cheque in the amount of $18 000 to Moisson Montreal for its major "Let's Start with Hunger" fund-raising drive. The sum was collected during different fund-raising activities organized by the employees. The BMO Employee Charitable Foundation, thanks to the generous support of active and retired employees and the clients and friends of the BMO Financial Group, is contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of those in need through its support of the thousands of charities registered in Canada.
04/04/2008
Raising suppliers' awareness concerning freshness
Close to half of our supplies are in the form of fresh fruit and vegetables. This is quite a challenge to our operations since market garden produce often arrives in a highly ripened state and must be sorted rapidly. In order to limit the consequences of this problem, an important awareness-raising campaign has been launched, geared toward our suppliers. In concrete terms, this implies regular meetings with the administrators and those in charge of loading platforms to discuss the subject. We remind them of the importance to Moisson Montreal of being able to offer a variety of quality fruits and vegetables to people who must forgo them due to a too-tight budget. We also underline our concerns about limiting the waste of "last call" produce and reducing the costs associated with waste disposal. And it's working! Thanks to the diligent work of our supply team, in barely a few months the freshness of the food given to us every day has significantly improved. Many thanks to all those who understand the importance of distributing quality produce!
29/02/2008
More than $245 000 raised by the 20th edition of the Non-Dinner
To date, 1562 generous donors have allowed Moisson Montreal to raise more than $245 000 in the course of its annual direct mail fund-raising campaign. Help us attain our goal of $325 000! You have until the 31st of March, 2008 to participate in Moisson Montreal's large food support network.
29/02/2008
Help us make ends meet
Notice to all employees, city councillors and elected officials of all boroughs of the city of Montreal : you have the ability to help us make ends meet. How? By planning a half-day or a full day of volunteering at Moisson Montreal with your team! With the need for 30 volunteers every day in our warehouse to ensure quality processing of the foodstuffs for distribution, Moisson Montreal depends on the help of numerous groups throughout the year. Three boroughs have already proudly answered our call : LaSalle, Verdun and Plateau-Mont-Royal. Please reserve a date immediately and give us the most precious gift : time. Contact us to plan your volunteer day at Moisson Montreal.
29/02/2008
Honorary chairman for a second year
Presided over for a second year by Mr. Pierre Shedleur, Chairman, President and General Manager of the "Société générale de financement du Québec" (SGF), Moisson Montreal's 6th annual Golf Classic will be held next June 9th. Last year, this major fund-raising activity raised a record amount of $162 000. Reuniting some 300 golfers, our golf tournament takes place at the prestigious Saint-Raphaël Golf Club at the heart of Ile Bizard.
I invite you all to take part in this annual event in order to ensure its success and to allow Moisson Montreal to continue its most essential mission. Pierre Shedleur
To register or to find out more about the event, click here .
24/01/2008
A donation please! ("Aweye don, un p'tit don !")
"Aweye don, un p'tit don !" ("A donation please!") Did you hear this song sung by the volunteers last December 6th ? Many seemed to have stopped to listen since more than 1.6 million dollars have been collected to date across the province of Quebec for the Holiday Food Drive ("Grande Guignolée des Médias")! In Montreal alone, almost $500 000 as well as thousands of non-perishable goods were generously donated. This large-scale province-wide collection would not have been such a success without the unfailing support of the people, businesses and, of course, the media! Moreover, this huge enterprise would never have been accomplished without the enthusiasm and smiles of hundreds of volunteers who gave of their time during the Food Drive.
An extra special thank you goes out to all the volunteers at Moisson Montreal's collection points :
- Baxter, Sysco Quebec, Golder and associates
- Jean-Coutu of Île des Sœurs
- Royal Bank of Île des Sœurs
- The Caisse Populaire Desjardins of Île des Sœurs
- Kraft
- The "Coalition énergie et construction durable" (CECD)
- The Investor's Group
- Mire
- The "Société générale de financement du Québec"
- The students of "École du Show business GG"
- All the individual volunteers present
24/01/2008
Holiday Train a success
Last December 1st , the Moisson Montreal team was on hand to welcome the Canadian Pacific Railway's Holiday Train which began it's long expedition at the Beaconsfield terminal. Despite the cold weather, this highly visible event gathered some 1000 people. During the event, Moisson Montreal gathered more than 565 kilograms of foodstuffs and $1121 from those present. That's three times the foodstuffs and twice the amount of money collected last year!
Also, the employees of CPR in Montreal bought 2351 kilograms of high quality food and rare essential products with money from an earlier fundraiser : fruits, vegetables, canned tuna and ham, flour, baby products, pasta, couscous, rice, etc. In the picture, top left : Jacques Laporte, Robert Gratton, Guy Meunier and André Pilon of CPR.
During the Holiday Train's stop at Beaconsfield, the CPR also donated $6000 directly to Moisson Montreal. During the event, the people were treated to the most beautiful holiday carols sung by "Le Chœur québécois" and were able to savor coffee or hot chocolate courtesy of Tim Horton.
24/01/2008
Food and toys for Christmas
During the Holiday season, 40 businesses collected from their employees foodstuffs and toys intended for families in need. With this wave of mutual help and co-operation, Moisson Montreal was able to collect more than 4 400 kilograms of food, games and stuffed toys for families and children. Moisson Montreal thanks warmly all those who initiated the project in their businesses and all those who gave generously.
Adélaïde Parent-Ruest |
Best Buy Canada Limited (Marché Central, Anjou, Lasalle, Pointe-Claire) |
In the picture, top left : Approximately fifteen children from the "Corporation culturelle Latino-Américaine de l’Amitié (COCLA)" received toys and stuffed toys donated by the employees of Bombardier Aerospace.