Locals organize clothing drive
Madelyn Cross has paid it forward once again, this time hauling 104 bags of donation clothing to four Montreal-based organizations in need.
Cross has been gathering community donations for non-profits that serve Indigenous people in the city for around five years, with the help of her son, Bronson Cross. They estimate that over the years they’ve brought around 800 bags of donations, with this year’s goods going to two Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ) shelters as well as The Open Door shelter.
“I’m really grateful that we keep doing this. Some bags that people give are humungous. Everybody has too much stuff in their house anyway, so we can pass things on,” Madelyn said.
“I remember when I was young and poor, I remember when I only had one jacket. Now I have a lot, so I can keep on going through what I have and giving some of it to other people.”
This year, Madelyn and Bronson took two truckloads to the organizations, who were grateful to receive the bags of blankets, warm clothes, and winter jackets.
“The Open Door even said that they had such a need they were just about to put a callout,” Madelyn said. “They said they had hardly anything, so they were really, really happy to receive it.”
The donation drives have become somewhat a tradition for the mother and son, who top off their days running donations with a warm chicken meal at their favourite Montreal spots.
For now, the duo is done with their donations for the season, though Madelyn encourages community members to reach out to the organizations directly should they have more to donate, as well as Resilience Montreal, which also accepts donations in the city.
