Supported by Centraide for over 25 years, the Maison d’Entraide Saint-Paul et Émard improves the living conditions of low-income residents in Ville-Émard and Côte-Saint-Paul by shoring up both their food security and self-sufficiency.
The agency’s many initiatives include a community restaurant, which provides healthy yet affordable meals to everyone, along with a work integration program with vocational training in restaurant services. A catering department also supports the agency’s social mission. Other essential initiatives—such as cooking workshops, handouts of fruit and vegetable baskets with Panier Futé, or the Les Cigognes project, which provides free meals to vulnerable families with young children—provide concrete help to those in need.
“I used to help keep people safe, but now I help them get enough to eat”
Volunteers are a pillar of the Maison d’Entraide, whose commitment lets the agency offer such a wide range of services to its members. In fact, 75 volunteers devoted over 4,900 hours to its activities in 2023-2024. By herself, Denise Major puts in over 25 hours a week, which is an incredibly admirable commitment for this retired SPVM employee. “I used to help keep people safe, but now I help them get enough to eat,” she says proudly.
Denise has a hand in multiple activities at the agency, such as pantry management, administration, and the organization of sign-ups for cooking workshops and fruit and vegetable baskets. She takes calls for appointments at the community grocery store and handles emergency food requests. Denise has also helped with promotional events in the neighbourhood and, since January, has sat on the agency’s board of directors.
A significant commitment recognized by Centraide
Denise Major’s impact and leadership truly sets her volunteer commitment apart. In 2025, she received the Solidaires Citizen Engagement, which goes to someone whose actions makes a real difference at an agency supported by Centraide of Greater Montreal. This award also recognizes a commitment that has led to concrete, lasting progress on an important issue or that has encouraged significant public engagement.
The jury was deeply moved by Denise Major and impressed by her incredible dedication and altruism. The jury also praised the high quality of the agency that benefits from her invaluable help and wished that all agencies could enjoy the same level of exceptional volunteer support that Denise provides.
1 out of 5 people receives our help.
5 out of 5 people benefit from it.
Let’s all lend a hand
Supporting a network of over 375 community agencies also means promoting an inclusive, poverty-free society.