Food Bank

Commenced in the mid 1960’s, the food bank originally provided low income families with food vouchers in times of financial crisis and Holiday baskets each December. The economic downturn of the early 1980’s made us realize that this service had to be improved and new avenues found to assist the many we felt needed support.

The emergency food bank is available to those with financial constraints and operates during normal business hours for the general public. Emergency Food Supplies are available 24 hours per day to emergency technicians, the police and social workers for clients in dire straights. Each situation is assessed on an individual basis according to one’s income and expenses and immediate assistance given. Appointments are scheduled to prevent long line ups and to insure an ample supply of food for that day. The food bank can accommodate up to 1000 food baskets per day, but this amount is normally only given on special distribution days such as that for seniors on the first Monday of each month. We normally serve an average of two hundred clients per diem.

Always available, emergency food baskets are balanced and contain basic staples that can be combined to form nutritious meals. Individuals and families are supplied with enough food to last from three to five days.

Sun Youth has perpetuated the tradition of Holiday baskets in an effort to render this period of the year a joyous one for all. Holiday baskets are normally distributed between December 15& and the 24”, and contributing companies are encouraged to assist in the distribution of Holiday baskets.

Highlights of the program include:

Senior supplements - the first Monday of every month (more than 1,000 clients)

• Pregnant mothers day the first Tuesday of every month (average 150 women)

• Kosher food baskets- the first Wednesday of every month (300 average)

• Magic Program - A special distribution on the first Thursday of every month for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Medication program

Inaugurated this September 1996, to assist persons affected by the adoption of the present Provincial government’s legislation (Universal Drug Plan), and subsequent cuts to social programs we felt obligated to assist on low income seniors. The Plan and its changes have forced too many in this populace undue hardship and has compelled seniors to spend more money on their medications, consequently affording them less money for their necessities.

Sun Youth implemented the Medication Aid Program to assist seniors aged 60 years or older, and individuals with mental health disabilities. The program normally pays up to 50% of the prescription costs incurred by the client, this depending on ones’ revenue and monthly expenses. The program works in conjunction with ,170 pharmacies and the AQPP (Association Quebecoise de Pharmaciens Propietaires) to facilitate access to the medication, while allowing the individual the freedom to shop at their pharmacy of choice. Individuals are reevaluated every three months and financial adjustments may be made accordingly. Budget constraints currently limit the number of persons privileged to this service to nine hundred clients.

As with all our programs, anonymity is guaranteed and course, is offered free of charge.

The clothing bank

Sun Youth has entrusted the management of this program to a group of mentally challenged men and women, as part of a work program sponsored by the Quebec government. These individuals sort donated clothing by category and replenish supplies daily. Persons can be outfitted from top to bottom with new and used clothing that is in good condition. The clothing bank is open to those on social assistance, employmet insurance, low income, and to the disadvantaged. Participants are invited to visit the bank once per season or every three months and is free of charge.

Short term crisis interventions

Sun Youth’s Emergency Services Unit has the possibility to quickly react to emergency crisis situations and very quickly mobilize teams to assist. Flexibility and training permit us to be on the scene of disasters and render quick and immediate support to the persons affected. Most recently we assisted the denizens of Rosemount who were affected by a broken water main with short term shelter, food, clothing, household supplies, appliances and pertinent information about apartments available and legal issues. This team, was responsible for coordinating an aid effort for the Saguenay Flood victims valued at over $ 800,OOO.OO and a similar undertaking was made to assist the Manitoba Flood victims this year, with a value of $850,000. In each of these undertakings, Sun Youth provided logistical support and even sent staff members to the affected areas to provide assistance and assure our donors that items entrusted to us reached their intended destination.