WATCH ABOVE: After collecting household items over the last few months, Lou-Anne Hood is hosting a shopping day so families in need from Rigaud can collect items they need for free. Global’s Billy Shields has more.
HUDSON – Lou-Anne Hood’s world turned upside down in September, when she lost her job.
But she turned tragedy into triumph when she took her downtime and converted it into a charity drive that helped 53 needy households from areas just west of the island of Montreal.
Dubbed a “free store” by Hood, people in areas around Hudson, Vaudreuil and Rigaud were encouraged to give used clothing and toys for the needy.
But rather than have these items foisted on a family who may or not be able to use them, “I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to choose what you needed for your family, to try things on,” Hood said.
The “store” took place in the basement of the St. Thomas Church in Hudson.
Using the donation infrastructure of organizations like Community Wings and Community Connections, Hood would sort items collected from various drop-off locations in the area from her basement.
“I told her, ‘do you know what you’re getting yourself into?'” said Shirley Hunt, an administrator with Community Connections.
“And then I explained to her what it entails.”
All the same, Hood described the work as a labour of love.
For recipients “this is like Christmas,” said Helena Tavares, a volunteer who got in touch with more than a dozen recipient households.
“Some of them are looking for shoes for their babies, some of them are looking for other items.”
The households approached Hood, but were screened by social workers beforehand to determine their need.
Lucie Miron, a mother of five children from Pincourt who is on social assistance, was one of them.
“It helps very much. I can’t go to the store and shop for five kids,” she said.
By around noon Saturday, Hood estimated about half the intended recipients had gone to the store.
She said the whole endeavour – likely a one-time occurrence – was a way of giving back to her community.
“I lost my job and I know what it’s like to go through a tough time,” she said.
“Christmas came and it was a very difficult time of year.”
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