WATCH ABOVE: There was all kinds of baskets being handed out – and also shot – at Sun Youth. Billy Shields explains what’s behind the annual event.
MONTREAL – Sid Stevens is the Executive Vice-President of Sun Youth on Saint Urbain street.
In the midst of volunteers feverishly putting together grocery baskets for needy people who are lined up at the organization’s headquarters Saturday, Stevens laments the fact that every year, he has more work to do.
“We have 5,000 families who are registered, we’re looking at 18,000 people, and we’re looking at approximately 35,000 bags being given out,” he said.
Year to year for the last three decades, “we’ve had a healthy increase. It’s not good.”
Such is the sad dynamic of a venerated program aimed at feeding the needy.
As each year passes, the program serves more and more people as the plight of disadvantaged people worsens.
“It’s growing where we have a total of 16 per cent of people here who are coming for the first time,” he said.
Many of those people, like Salvadoran refugee Carlos Miranda, are immigrants.
Miranda says he worked odd jobs, but has been struggling to find work lately, something he attributed to his age.
His wife had a job, but had to quit after she came down with a kidney ailment.
As they walk to their car, the couple says they were grateful for Sun Youth’s efforts.
This year, a group of parking enforcement officers also volunteered their time in a sort of a role reversal.
“There are certain people who cannot pick up their Christmas baskets. So, we’re delivering their Christmas baskets to their home,” explained Fernando Nobrega, a volunteer agent.
Volunteers also distributed toys, something Sun Youth officials note is good for overall morale.
“We have to make sure that they know there’s hope,” said Tommy Kulczyk, Sun Youth’s director of emergency services.
“That there’s support.”
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