Giving back during the holidays can be easier than you thought!
Instead of buying some new gadget for the person who has everything why not make a donation in their honor?
In the past I have donated to charities and programs. For example, WWF, SickKids Foundation, CARE and the Montreal Children’s Hospital to name a few. There are endless amounts of charities you can help. It doesn’t take long to find out how you can help either. It takes two seconds to do a quick Google search.
If you don’t believe you have enough funds to be able to donate, many foundations accept very small donations. You can also donate your time instead! Money isn’t the only thing that charities need, or appreciate!
In Montreal and All Across Quebec
For example, there is La Grande Guignolée des Médias (The Medias Big Food Drive). The food or money collected goes to those in need with the help of societies like Sun Youth, Moisson Montreal, Harvest West etc.
“Holidays with dignity: Demand for food increases during the Holiday Season. We’re working together to allow everyone to celebrate with dignity. The donations collected are also used in the months following the Media Food Drive when contributions are scarcer, but the needs are still there.”
In Jean Coutu Pharmacies, Provigo, Maxi, and Loblaws, there are bins where you can donate the following acceptable items:
- Canned meats, fish, legumes, infant formula, baby food, meals for lunch or dinner, etc..
- Cereal boxes;
- Bags or boxes of pasta;
- Hygiene products: soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, deodorants, towels, tampons, disposable diapers, facial tissue, toilet paper, etc..
- Household maintenance items;
- Commonly used drugs syrups, analgesics, vitamins, antihistamines, etc..
Or, you can simply donate money if you prefer.
Donations:
To issue a check, label it with the Media’s Big Food Drive, and then send it to:
Sun Youth
4251 St-Urbain
Montreal, Quebec
H2X 1V6
Donations can be made by phone at TicketPro by calling 514 790-1111 or toll-free 1 866 908-9090.
If you would like to know more about how you can help or about the history of this drive, go to their website here. It is in French, but if you are English speaking you can get Google to translate it for you. Don’t let language barriers be the reason you don’t donate!
Also, while it is great to use the holidays as motivation to give, being charitable during the whole year is even better. While it is understandable that you may not always have the means to donate money ( I know I sure don’t), even a simple “please” or “thank you” or any small action that help better someone’s day is better than nothing.
We all have so much to be grateful for, pay it forward.
Related:
Twenty West’s 2nd Annual Homeless Drive in Collaboration with the Old Brewery Mission