Local item collection initiative

One small initiative turns into big community effort to support individuals and families in need

Pictured is Logan (back left) alongside people that volunteered their time to sort through items. Photo courtesy Cynthia Royea.

By Taylor McClure 
Townships’ Daily News Bits 
CIDI 99.1 FM 

Around this time last year, Logan Lague grabbed his toboggan and trekked through the streets of Knowlton in search of items to give to those living in vulnerable circumstances, that are unhoused, or do not have permanent housing. 

What started as a small initiative eventually became a community effort. Citizens put together whatever items they could find in support of Lague, some volunteered their time to sort through the items, and some even volunteered to do trips to bring the items to various shelters and organizations in Montreal. 

Lague, with the help of his mother Cynthia Royea, is bringing the initiative back for another year.

“It started off with us looking at the news and there was a guy that died on the streets in Montreal that was homeless. I felt really bad and I didn’t want that to happen to anybody else,” recounted Lague.

Royea eventually posted on Facebook to see what could be collected from the local community and the initiative quickly grew. 

“People just started coming, knocking at our door one after one. They came in saying ‘oh I have some stuff’ and ‘this has a hole in it do you mind?’ For someone who is homeless, it’s saving a life just that one thing. A mitten, even if has a little hole in it, we just sew it back up and it’s all good,” mentioned Lague. 

After last year’s success, Lague’s initiative will keep on going, but they are currently trying to get their truck back on the road after the transmission blew. 

“We’ve had a couple of people do trips because the items keep coming in. (…) A couple of people were calling us asking us when we were going in and we were like well, the living room is full, the basement is full, but right now we can’t leave the driveway,” said Royea. 

Despite the lack of a vehicle, donations are still welcomed and there are specific needs. 

“It’s mostly sleeping bags, they are really helpful for them, sweaters, mittens, really all pieces of clothing, and toothbrushes also,” said Lague. 

“We take basically everything, we even take summer clothes. (…) The reality is, in the summer, less items come in, but they need summer shoes, they need the stuff,” noted Royea.

Lague and Royea often make trips out to Montreal to distribute items to women’s shelters, organizations that serve the Indigenous community, and other places such as Maison du Père and Old Brewery, witnessing first hand the impact the initiative is making. 

“Logan helped saved a woman. We didn’t know what was wrong with, but she couldn’t walk. It was because her feet were so frozen and she only canvas shoes on. We opened the truck up and let her in,” said Royea. 

“I gave her my socks because she needed them more than I did and I have a bunch of pairs at home. It was nice for her and she was crying, she could barely speak because she was so cold,” added Lague.

The U-Haul rentals are paid out of pocket to ensure that the items get to where they need to go. Lague recently sold Christmas ornaments at the Christmas market in Brome, donated by a lady from New York that owned a Christmas shop, and raised $615 to go towards a U-Haul.

Royea noted that they have received a lot of calls this year for local citizens and families in need in Brome Lake and surrounding areas.

They have also collaborated with non-profit organization Centre D’Action Bénévole de Cowansville by providing coats for children, and they have a relationship with the PR-RP Abercorn thrift store taking on the items they do not sell. 

“A lot of people that work for the DPJ (Direction de la protection de la jeunesse) that knows of a family, they will call me. This is new this year. A lot of local families have been desperately in need. I think with the economy there is going to be a lot more also,” she said. 

As the need for basic necessities continue to grow, Lague said that he wants to continue his initiative for as long as possible. 

“I really, really, really want to keep doing this. As long as we keep getting funds and as long as we keep getting donations, I think this can go on for a really long time,” he said. 

Items can be dropped off at 316 Knowlton Road.

Listen to the full interview below: