Support Parc Ex Mutual Aid's food security program

Parc Ex Mutual Aid is a neighbourhood support group made up of residents living in Parc Extension, Montreal. The group formed in March 2020 with the onset of COVID-19 and we have been supporting neighbours since, primarily tackling food insecurity.

With a population of 33,800, Parc Extension is one of the poorest and most densely inhabited neighbourhoods in Canada (over 20,000 people per square km!) 57% of Parc Ex residents are immigrants, 79% of households are tenants, and the average median household income after taxes is $39,689. For contrast - the average median income in Quebec is $58,000. Parc Exers face precarious living situations due to the affordability crisis, rising rents, and mass evictions due to gentrification. Many have been displaced or cut into their food and household essentials budget to afford rent. Lack of citizenship or residency makes accessing safe employment and / or government support challenging, which further exacerbates the situation.

Food insecurity is urgent in Parc Ex: In March 2024, GRASAPE, a round table of Parc Ex front line organizations, raised the alarm on the food crisis in our neighbourhood . Over 1000 families have been turned away from Parc Ex food services so far this year. There are many nonprofit organizations in Parc-Extension but they are stretched beyond capacity, and several have been displaced from their home in the William Hingston Centre, which only adds to the challenges Parc Exers are facing. One foodbank which provided biweekly food boxes only offers them every 5 weeks now, because of lack of funding and increase in demand. Another non profit food security organization that serves the entire island of Montreal says 90% of their requests come from Parc Extension. Parc Ex Mutual Aid has also been feeling the effects of these losses with a significant increase in calls for help.

How Do We Help? Parc Ex Mutual Aid supports its neighbours by delivering essential items such as groceries and baby supplies to vulnerable households. Since January 2023, we’ve been in touch with over 100 Parc Ex households. Where we differ from other organizations in the community is our model: we are wholly volunteer run and since we are outside the system, we don’t require proof of income or residency, we believe everyone deserves to be fed and housed. We also advocate for and support tenants rights, run errands, find winter clothing for newcomers, help people move, and push for COVID-19 services in the neighbourhood. We love to connect with our neighbors and collaborate with other non profit and mutual aid organizations in the community addressing issues like gentrification, food scarcity, and legal needs.

How Can You Help? Parc Ex Mutual Aid aims to raise $10,000 to continue supporting our neighbours in 2024 by providing groceries and diapers. Just to keep our food security initiative going, we need $1500 a month. But we have bigger plans!

This summer we are launching a regular in-person event series at Parc Ex community centre Brique par Brique . This will include a storytime for young children, but also offer a chance for us to connect more meaningfully with the needs of community members. We anticipate hosting clothing drives, school supply drives, bake sales, and other kinds of events at BxB later this year.

Your support will make a difference: $5 buys a 2L of milk, $30 buys diapers, $50 will buy a household groceries. Consider contributing to help sustain our efforts.