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A Christmas dinner for 132 Sudbury families

Club Richelieu Les Patriotes celebrate more than 30 years of their annual Christmas basket distribution

École St-Joseph gymnasium was filled with laughter Dec. 15, as Club Richelieu Les Patriotes, their families and their friends joined together for their annual Christmas basket distribution.

For more than 30 years, Club Richelieu Les Patriotes have been preparing baskets, which include ham, tortiere, vegetables, canned goods and more, this year in support of 132 Sudbury families. 

Club Richelieu Les Patriotes were joined Saturday by the peewee Copper Cliff Minor Hockey team, led by assistant coach Alain Gauthier. 

Gauthier and his family have participated in the preparation of Christmas baskets for five years, but this year Gauthier wanted to do things a little different. In an effort to combine his passion for coaching and philanthropy, Gauthier asked the president of the organizing committee, Regent Dupuis, whether his players could participate in the heartwarming event. 

"It's a good opportunity for them to contribute to an activity for people that are less fortunate in our own backyard," said Gauthier. 

"They get to see what it's like to be part of a community activity that requires leadership and cooperation." 

For Gauthier, the process of completing the baskets is just as important as the outcome. 

"The outcome is something that's of great value," said Gauthier, "but also the process in bringing people together on a Saturday morning and working together, collaborating to make everything happen, is also something that there's a lot to be said about and a lot to gain from."

Since Club Richelieu Les Patriotes began their Christmas food drive, their number of recipients has increased from 30 to anywhere from 130-150. 

Dupuis ,credits this to both the ability of Club Richelieu Les Patriotes to accommodate demand and an increase in need. One area in particular that Dupuis has noticed considerable change, is the increase of applications for senior citizens. 

"We never received names from the seniors of the community but it seems they are having a difficult time as well," said Dupuis. 

Recipients of the club's annual Christmas food drive are nominated by local schools, parishes and members of Club Richelieu Les Patriotes.

Families interested in becoming recipients of the Club Richelieu Christmas baskets are encouraged to contact their education or religious administrator to request a nomination. 

Club Richelieu Les Patriotes is a non-profit organization which promotes French language and culture through humanitarian, cultural and social actions. 


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Keira Ferguson, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

About the Author: Keira Ferguson, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

A graduate of both Laurentian University and Cambrian College, Keira Ferguson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, funded by the Government of Canada, at Sudbury.com.
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