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Jennifer Szabo is collecting winter clothes for earthquake victims from Haiti who are arriving in Montreal.

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West Island women help Haiti refugees as they arrive in Canada

Individuals collecting winter clothes to help new arrivals

Alycia Ambroziak
The Gazette
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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Jennifer Szabo is collecting winter clothes for earthquake victims from Haiti who are arriving in Montreal.

Like a lot of people when disaster strikes in another part of the world, Jen Szabo of Pointe Claire and Rhonda Massad, a Beaconsfield city councillor, both felt a sort of helplessness after seeing scene after scene of earthquake-hit Haiti.

And both women decided on their own, to do something about it. Although they do not know each other,  they are both collecting clothes for Haiti refugees arriving in Montreal.

“I felt a sort of guilty for not doing anything, so I called Sun Youth after seeing a report about them running out of winter clothes for the people from Haiti who were landing at Trudeau airport,” Szabo said. “People are coming wearing whatever they have on their back – some coming in shorts and tank tops.”

After talking with Sun Youth officials, Szabo learned that, in fact, Sun Youth was able to hand out new winter coats and boots to the Haitians as they arrived in Montreal, but they also needed winter clothing.

“Sun Youth has new coats and boots for them, but they will need more than that – hats, socks, shoes, sweaters, scarves, gloves, pants – to live in our winter climate,” said Szabo. 

“So I am collecting winter clothing, in all sizes, new and gently used for them.”

Szabo said she will bring the clothes  to Sun Youth, who will distribute them to the Haitian refugees.

“I have five drop-off points on the island and off the island, set up and if anyone has anything, they would like to donate, please call.”

Massad, a housewife, small business owner and district 6 city councillor in Beaconsfield, also spoke with Sun  Youth officials and decided to collect new winter clothes as well as snack items and water to hand out to the Haitian refugees soon after they land in Canada.

“I contacted my friends and we all had the same feeling about helping out but did not know what to do out it, besides writing a cheque,” Massad said.
Massad said that individual as well as corporate donations are welcome.

“We have some pretty nice sponsors so far – KayWay, Hiver en Folie and more to come,” she said.

Donations can be dropped off at Massad’s office, Gem Entrepot, 72F Brunswick Blvd. in Dollard or at her home by appointment. Call 514-830-6694. To reach Szabo, who has five drop-off points, call 514-636-0786.