Food Basket Delivery Project to Aid More Vulnerable Populations
Montréal, Québec, May 7, 2020 – In the context of the current sanitary crisis, and sensitive to the Mayor's appeal, the Agence de mobilité durable has been participating, since April 22nd, in a pilot project to deliver food to more vulnerable populations, in collaboration with Montreal’s Service de la diversité et de l'inclusion sociale.
In an effort to make a positive difference in the community in a time of turmoil, several employees had expressed their desire to be able to further assist the collective effort by participating in a mobilization operation in support of essential procurement or delivery services.
Over the past few weeks, more than 20 employees have participated in the project in one way or another - coordination, delivery route planning, home deliveries - with a first food aid cell in Saint-Léonard, making more than 150 deliveries spread over five days for three community organizations.
"For us, our involvement was voluntary and in support of the desire of many employees, namely parking agents, to be able to contribute more," said Laurent Chevrot, the Agence de mobilité durable’s General Manager. "As a result, some of our employees and part of our fleet have been made available for a pilot project to deliver food baskets to counterbalance, among other things, the current lack of volunteers of Montreal-supported community organizations. I am very proud of this employee-led mobilization and would like to warmly thank them for their participation! »
"Demands addressed to community organizations, particularly those working in the food aid sector, have skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic. These organizations play a fundamental role in meeting the basic needs of the most vulnerable, addressing their isolation and improving their quality of life. We are pleased that the Agence de mobilité durable’s team has responded to the call to assist these organizations, which are providing essential work. This assistance will relieve the pressure on volunteers who devote themselves on a daily basis," said Éric Alan Caldwell, Head of Urban Planning, Mobility and the Montreal Public Consultation Office on the City of Montreal's Executive Committee.
"Since the beginning of the crisis, the borough of Saint-Léonard has set up a food aid cell with the Eastern Montreal Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres (CIUSSS), as well as community organizations in the community. The need for volunteers quickly became a pressing one and the help provided by the Agence de mobilité durable’s team was enthusiastically received. With their help and the combined strengths of the borough, the CIUSSS and the community, we were able to meet the needs. I would like to thank all the volunteers in our community for their extraordinary efforts," said Michel Bissonnet, Mayor of the Saint-Léonard Borough.
Despite economic activities gradually taking up again and the reassignment of a good number of employees to their regular duties – the staff having been reduced during the imposed confinement by the authorities – the Agence will continue to be involved in the project for as long as possible, in order to continue supporting the efforts of food security organizations.
About the Agence de mobilité durable
A paramunicipal organization, the Agence de mobilité durable’s mission is to ensure the management, regulatory enforcement, and innovative development of paid on-street and off-street parking throughout the city of Montreal. Through its leadership, it will contribute to improving customer experience, street sharing and public domain occupation by supporting actions that promote urban mobility.
Since January 1, 2020, the Société en commandite Stationnement de Montréal’s activities, as well as those of the Service d’application réglementaire de stationnement (SARS), previously under the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, have been transferred to the Agence de mobilité durable.