Club Richelieu Les Patriotes capped off another successful Christmas basket campaign Saturday, with its annual packing party at École St-Joseph.
Around 75 community members showed up to lend a helping hand, including club representatives, friends, family and players from the Copper Cliff major peewee AA hockey team, the Reds.
This impressive show of volunteerism worked together to pack 125 'baskets' with chicken, meat, cheese, vegetables, canned goods and more for families in Greater Sudbury.
Recipients were chosen according to need and nominated by administrative leaders at local schools and parishes, or members of Club Richelieu Les Patriotes.
A portion of the items is collected through food drives at local schools, while the remainder is purchased by Club Richelieu with the help of community partners and fundraising events held over the course of the year.
Joining that list of community partners for the first time this year was Club Richelieu de le Vallé, who contributed $1,000 to the cause as well as extra volunteers.
The initiative also received financial support from Sainte-Anne-Des-Pins for the second year in the row, in the amount of $2,800. This was given in addition to a considerable number of gifts that the parish has been contributing to the cause for the past few years.
More families were accepted into this year's Christmas basket program as a result said club co-president Ray Coutu, which receives more and more applications year after year.
"There is more poverty than people think," he said.
Coutu was elected to the position of co-president this past August alongside his son-in-law Jordan.
The group aims to appoint a new president every year said Coutu, to encourage participation, allow more members to understand the responsibilities of the role and bring new ideas to the club.
It is common for a senior member to act as co-president to a younger member said Coutu, but it's not a rule. Although, he said having the ability to share tasks does make the role easier to manage.
Club Richelieu Les Patriotes is a non-profit organization that promotes French language and culture through fundraising events held throughout the year. It is open to men 18 years of age and older.
The group meets once a month through video conferencing and a few times a year in person, aside from fundraising events.
There will be a recruitment supper held in January for those interested in learning more about the club's work in the community and how they can get involved.
For more information on the club or becoming a member, contact Coutu at [email protected].
