NDG Food Depot volunteers deliver joy to doorsteps
CBC Charity Drive raising funds for food bank's various programs, including home delivery service
Every Tuesday is date day for Susan Einhorn and Michael Quinn.
But instead of dinner and dancing, the NDG couple bond over doing good for their community: They deliver bags of food to the sick and elderly in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
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But when prodded, they say the decision to help out came down to giving back.
"Look, we didn't solve all the world's problems, but we've done a small thing in our local community and made five or six people a little bit happier. We get joy out of that reaction from them," says Quinn, while his wife nods in agreement.
After a few hours of driving around the community, dropping off fresh vegetables, milk, eggs and non-perishables, Einhorn and Quinn wrap up their date with a cup of coffee at a local café.
We didn't solve all the world's problems, but we've done a small thing in our local community,- Michael Quinn, NDG Food Depot volunteer
"You never know where you're going to be in life. Most people didn't plan on needing this help," Einhorn adds.
CBC Montreal spent an afternoon with Einhorn and Quinn as they made their rounds.
First on their list was Beverley Hartley.
She used to pick up her food basket from the NDG Food Depot herself, but after she tripped and fell one time while carting the groceries home, she decided to sign up for the home delivery service.
She said there's nothing quite like the feeling she gets when volunteers Quinn and Einhorn knock on her door.
It makes you happy, really happy, that there's people out there who really care.- Beverley Hartley, NDG Food Depot participant
"They're such happy-go-lucky people, and you see the smile and the caring and the love in their faces," Hartley said.
Hartley's mother died over the holidays last year, and she said the season is now a difficult time for her.
When the NDG Food Depot volunteers show up with their bags full of goodies, Hartley said the joy she feels is about more than having a fully stocked pantry.
"I'm so excited when they come to the door ... It makes you happy, really happy, that there's people out there who really care."
How you can help
CBC Montreal will be accepting donations for this year's Sing-In charity drive until Jan. 4, 2016.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @CBCMontreal (#cbcsingin) and at cbc.ca/singin where you can learn more about this year's charity drive events, donate online and track our fundraising effort.