In an open letter, the Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association (CDNBCA) is highlighting the need for sustained funding to support nonprofits.
Working alongside Moisson Montréal, among other partner organizations, the association looks to provide essential services for the city’s Black community.
But association board of directors chair, Ayanna Alleyne, says budget constraints have been a challenge.
“We rely on Moisson Montréal 100 per cent. Sometimes they don’t have enough food and sometimes they’re sharing between the plethora of people in Montreal. If we were able to get some sustainable funding that we can allocate specifically to our food bank, we would be able to have our own truck,” said Alleyne.
“Our food bank was started a couple of years ago. We had maybe 10 or 15 families that would come regularly to pick up.”
Having started in the pandemic, the CDNBCA food bank at 4920 Vezina Street offers food baskets to all for pick up and delivery to those with mobility issues and seniors, helping 60 to 80 people per week.
“Even though we’re a Black-led org, we provide services for the entire community. We have all walks of life, ages, race, income status,” said Lisa Stanisclaus, a program manager at the CDNBCA. “It’s hard to refuse people to say, ‘okay, well, you know, sorry, we don’t have.’”
“They get fruits, they get bread. They’re very big on bread. They ask for milk and eggs,” said Stanisclaus.
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Alleyne added, “I think now we have a very big mix of people who are just needing that extra help in their day-to-day and their weekly expenses. It really makes a change in what people are able to do. It makes a difference between putting a kid in after-school activities because they were able to save $40, $50 a week on their groceries.”
Trinidad Jimenez, a retiree says, “I’m very grateful that I have new things, like free, because I’m a senior citizen. I have a small pension. Taking care of your community, it’s really nice.”
As they continue expanding, the food bank also hopes to be able to get an industrial fridge and freezer to store and supply the community with meats. Meanwhile, the Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association hopes they’ll be around to continue meeting Montrealers’ needs.
“Nonprofits in general, and specifically Black nonprofits, are forgotten in the ecosystem of what gets done in community space,” said Alleyne. “Being able to have the organization still be standing after 50 years is a testament to what we’ve been able to do and what we want to continue doing.”