Cree couple makes lunch for Val d'Or homeless
'We don't know them personally but we wanted to offer food, out of love,' says Kenneth Matoush
When Kenneth Matoush moved to Val d'Or, Que. with his wife Harriet for a new job earlier this year, one of the first things he noticed were how many people lived on the streets.
Matoush, originally from Mistissini, remembers thinking how worn out and haggard some of the homeless people looked. One night, he and his wife went out for supper in the city, and talked about how they felt lucky and blessed to be able to eat a meal at a restaurant.
"We thought about it for a while, then I told my wife Harriet that we should go to the grocery store and buy some stuff to make sandwiches — meat, bread," he said. "I told her we could give them to the people who are on the streets."
In late July, they delivered on their plans. They prepared lunches with sandwiches, watermelon slices, granola bars and juice boxes, drove around town, and gave them to people they saw on the streets.
"We don't know these people, but for sure we know they are from the different Cree communities inland, and along the coast," Matoush said. "We don't know them personally but we wanted to offer food, out of love."
Matoush, who works for the Cree Nation Government as a support worker with the Department of Justice, said it was a nice feeling to share food with people on the street, knowing they are living through difficult moments.
"We don't know exactly what they are going through unless they tell us. The only thing we can do is try to reach out to them and get to know their situation. To show them that we respect them no matter what, and help them when we can."
Matoush says he hopes he can create a relationship with some of the people he's met on the streets, and wants to support local organizations, such at the Native Friendship Shelter in Val d'Or, that provide services to the homeless.
He says he and his wife are considering another lunch run in the fall.