By Romy Shoam
While staying home is the ultimate way of taking action right now to ensure the well-being of others, there are additional ways to help. Donations are incredibly crucial; community organizations around Dawson like Chez Doris are asking for financial donations to be able to continue offering services while enforcing proper hygienic measures, and Resilience Montreal is asking for food and clothing. Volunteer efforts are also tremendously helpful at this time, given that the volunteering takes into account social distancing measures and offers hygienic precautions (masks, gloves, etc.). No matter how you’re spending your time during the self-isolation period, as long as you’re staying inside and staying safe, you’re doing your part for the community. Depending on your level of comfort, take some time to check out these opportunities to help out around Montreal:
Neighbourhood Facebook groups (a virtual “lend a cup of sugar to your neighbor” arrangement):
Here, you can post updates particular to your community (like grocery store stocks), offer advice to your neighbours, find volunteer opportunities, share resources, and coordinate drop-offs to those unable to go out and buy necessities. In the NDG group, a member put together a guide to growing food in the city, and another collected food from many NDG-ers to drop off at Resilience Montreal!
Équiterre made a helpful list of most groups around Montreal.
Volunteer through government website: www.jebenevole.ca
You can offer your services, such as making deliveries or kitchen help.
Sew a face mask:
Sew masks or donate fabric to those who need it through the Canada Sews QC Facebook page, or contact Lakeshore General Hospital, who is asking for homemade masks to prevent the transmission of the virus.
Email Lakeshore General at clothmasksLGH@gmail.com
Shop for and deliver food, meals, and pharmacy items:
Federation CJA is mobilizing volunteers who want to help others in their community. Check out this form [listed below].
Write and email a letter to a senior citizen:
Kirkland resident Alana Edwards has started the Brighten Their Day initiative in an attempt to reach out to those in senior residences! For hygienic purposes, instead of actual letters, participants can write emails to santatoaseniormtl@gmail.com.
Volunteer efforts are also tremendously helpful at this time, given that the volunteering takes into account social distancing measures and offers hygienic precautions (masks, gloves, etc.)
Links to organizations mentioned in this article:
Chez Doris:
Resilience Montreal:
Équiterre:
Je Benevole:
Canada Sews:
Lakeshore General Hospital:
Federation CJA:
Brighten Their Day: