We’re gearing up for the holidays

Nicolas Carpentier

November will be a busy month at Sun Youth. As each day gets us closer to the holidays, we are getting ready to assist thousands of people with food hampers and toys. Hopefully, they will have something to smile about at this time of year, despite the economy.

We would never be able to bring holiday cheer to so many people without the assistance of those who have been instrumental to Sun Youth’s ability to make a difference in the lives of many Montrealers. We recently had the chance to welcome the executive director of the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation, Lyne Lavoie, who generously presented our organization with a $20,000 cheque.

The weekend of November 7 will see the return of the annual Recyc-a-Bike (Recyc-Vélo) collection. For the third year, Sun Youth will collect used bicycles to be distributed to families in need next spring. This initiative is the brainchild of Michel Houle, general director of Houle Toyota. The bicycles collected during this weekend will be geared up by one of Houle Toyota’s mechanics.

People are invited to bring their used bicycles to one of the four collection points on November 7 and 8 between 9am and 4pm. Sun Youth will accept bikes at its headquarters (4251 St. Urbain); in the East End, bicycles can be taken to Houle Toyota (12305 Sherbrooke E.); North Shore residents can go to Collège Saint-Sacrement (901 Saint-Louis in Terrebonne); on the South Shore, bikes can be taken to Collège Jean de la Mennais (870 Saint Jean in La Prairie).

Lyne Lavoie, executive director of the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation, presents Tommy Kulczyk, Sun Youth’s assistant to the executive vice- president and director of emergency services, with a cheque for $20,000 Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

Sun Youth thanks everyone involved in this event. The end of November will mark the return of the annual live broadcast of CHOM and CJAD’s shows from the sidewalk in front of the Sun Youth building to launch our Christmas Basket Campaign. On Thursday, November 26, the morning shows of the two stations will air from 5:30 to 10am, the drive home show will be between 4 and 7pm.

People will be invited to give monetary donations or non-perishable foods for our holiday food hampers. Again this year, we will give baskets to about 18,000 people. In addition, more than 10,000 new toys will be handed out to the children whose parents are registered for baskets. As usual, these toys will be hand-wrapped by members of our Seniors Club.

There is still time to register for a Christmas or Chanukah basket. Come to Sun Youth from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm with proof of address, proof of revenue and the medicare cards of everyone living at the address. The baskets will be handed out from December 18 to December 24. For more information, contact Sun Youth at 514-842-6822.