'Feed the Outaouais' campaign beats goal with a day to spare

By: Stuart Benson

The campaign to support local agriculture producers and to help those in need during the pandemic was launched on June 8, and with the end of the campaign near at hand, it has already raised $27,355 of its $25,000 goal.

According to a press release from the Marché de l’Outaouais on June 30, the campaign reached 25 per cent of their goal within the first 48 hours and by the end of that day had raised $18,790, which was 75 per cent of their goal. They have now raised 109 per cent of their goal.

“Together to Feed the Outaouais” is a collaboration between the Marché de l'Outaouais, a non-profit solidarity cooperative offering products by Outaouais producers, and Moisson Outaouais’, a regional food bank. They are being helped by La Ruche, a non-profit organization that works to encourage and support the development of new projects in Quebec through its crowdfunding platform.

Marché de l'Outaouais is offering the purchase of gift baskets filled with local products or gift cards for the market starting at $25 dollars. For $50 dollars, you will receive a $25 gift card for the market, as well as providing a basket of local products to the Moisson. Rewards increase in size incrementally according to the amount donated — up to a $1,000 contribution, which consists of a $500 gift card and a basket to the Moisson also valued at $500.

On top of the money raised by the campaign Desjardins Group has committed to contributing $25,000 from its ‘Pay It Forward’ campaign and the Coopérative de développement régional du Québec, through the Outaouais-Laurentides, will add another $2,000 on top of that through its "Coopérative Coup de cœur" program, a bursary from the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité.

For more information on the campaign, sponsors and participating producers, or if you wish to donate to the campaign, visit laruchequebec.com/ensembleoutaouais. The campaign ends on July 7.