SNJM Volunteer Involved in a Food Transformation Project

Since the beginning of 2024, SNJM volunteer Julie Tétreault and her husband Michel Lavallée, a chef by profession, have been involved in a food transformation project. Both retired, they transform the food received by the Pierrefonds food bank from grocery stores and bakeries.

Michel Lavallée with the pesto.

This commitment follows a personal initiative by the couple, who wanted to give themselves a mission. “We were inspired by the Lord’s words, ‘Give them something to eat yourself. As we have no children of our own, it is a project that fulfills our spiritual fruitfulness,” says Julie. The couple’s experience illustrates their beautiful complicity. “We work well together. This commitment brings us great joy, especially when we see how it makes the people around us happy,” she confides.

Food support for  approximately 300 people

From week to week, the challenges are different. They can find themselves cooking Thai chicken and rice, making banana muffins, pesto and even collecting broken pieces of Easter chocolate and then melting it. The result was some 20 liters of chocolate rearranged in molds.

The couple chops vegetables, makes soups, arranges fruits and separates condiments into smaller containers. And that’s not counting the quantity of baguettes they slice every week. At one point they had to deal with 200 baguettes at a time!

From left to right, Marie-Jaelle, Kathleen, Maria and Marthy in the FDOI collective kitchen, working with the couple to transform food every week.

Once a week, the two retirees go to the collective kitchen to take advantage of their extensive facilities. The rest of the time, they prepare food in their own kitchen which they then supply to Montreal’s West Island Assistance Fund (WIAF). They each devote about a dozen hours a week to this paid activity.

The FDOI de Montréal is recognized primarily for its food supply activities. Founded in 1966, the organization weekly supports an average of 250 to 300 people experiencing social and financial difficulties in the Pierrefonds area. It tries to organize complementary activities to promote greater autonomy.

Volunteering at the parish

At the same time, Julie and Michel volunteer at Jésus Lumière-du-Monde Parish. Michel recently cooked a chili meal for 250 people as part of the Pentecost celebration.

Michel preparing a meal at the parish with other volunteers.

And that’s without counting the couple’s contribution to the Alpha participants, another group in the parish. Inspired by the Anglican Church in England, the parish offers this 12-week training session which focuses on deepening one’s Christian faith. Various activities are organized, including conferences, video sessions and a meal every two weeks, prepared by Michel. Julie, with the help of volunteers, takes care of the collecting and washing of the dishes. The alternating week, participants meet for coffee and snacks.

“The fact that Michel is a professional chef inspires confidence in people. They often praise him for the quality of his dishes. It’s very rewarding for him,” adds Julie. Julie is not to be outdone. “All these actions make me feel grateful”. She recalls a theme that has always been meaningful to for her: “In the joy of serving you, Yahweh”.

Photos credit: Julie Tétreault

Top photo caption: SNJM volunteer Julie Tétrault and her husband Michel.