Over 400 volunteers from local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Saint John Brebeuf Parish participated in a door-to door food drive in LaSalle, Quebec to commemorate Canada’s First National Day of Service.
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Volunteers collected nearly 300 boxes of non-perishable food items weighing over four metric tons and received over $1400.00 in donations to help local food banks, including the H.O.P.E. Food Bank and NDG Food Depot. These two food banks provide emergency food supplies to residents in the LaSalle area.
Member of Parliament Helene LeBlanc was one of many volunteers going door-to-door to collect food. In her opening remarks, she reminded volunteers that helping our neighbors doesn't just make us feel good individually, but also helps to bring us together as communities. Member of Parliament Marc Garneau, who helped sort donations later in the day, congratulated the volunteers on a job well done and reminded attendees that we volunteer “because we care.” The City of Montreal’s Blue Collar Union donated a truck and driver for the event, and LaSalle Loblaws made a generous donation to the H.O.P.E. Food Depot towards the purchase of perishable food items.
Canada’s National Day of Service was established in 2011 by the Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a day to remember those who lost their lives on 11 September 2001 and to honor those who sacrificed to save others, as well as all the Canadians who showed generosity and compassion. To support this initiative, congregations of the Church throughout Canada made a nation-wide commitment to perform local acts of service in recognition of this National Day of Service. Thousands of volunteers across the country donated their time in their community.