#ENSEMBLEMPHRÉMAGOG, against the pandemic

Magog, April 8, 2020 - A committee of volunteer citizens, Lacosta Communication and La Ruche Estrie are launching today a socio-financing campaign to help the Memphremagog Food Bank (BAM) and regional restaurant owners. This campaign, under the name #EnsembleMemphrémagog, contre la pandémie, aims to raise $5,000 by April 22.

This project is spread out over a 15-day period and is based on the Sherbrooke campaign, which is united against the pandemic, in partnership with La Ruche's participatory financing platform. The socio-financing campaign will allow the BAM to collect a greater number of nutritious frozen meals to distribute to its regular and new users.

"Indeed, with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the stable situation we had last week has already changed in just one week. We are currently receiving a large number of calls and requests from people who have lost their jobs. Many people are in a vulnerable situation due to the loss of their job and are joining our users. In addition, due to the news of Prime Minister Legault to continue the break until May 4, we anticipate supply problems," said Ms. Andrée Gagnon, Executive Director of the Memphremagog Food Bank,

When she received the proposal for a social fundraising campaign, Ms. Gagnon was delighted at the idea of getting help in these trying times. "When I received the call from the campaign coordinator proposing to replicate the same formula as the current campaign in Sherbrooke, I felt a sense of humanitarian and sincere support from the volunteer committee," she says. The distribution of nutritious and tasty meals remains important and an essential element in the baskets given to people in need. "There is nothing like receiving a dish cooked with love by a local restaurant owner to warm the hearts of people who are currently experiencing even more difficult times and who are struggling to meet their basic needs," adds Ms. Gagnon.

The campaign also aims to support the restaurant owners by providing them with an amount to cover the costs of providing nutritious meals to those in need and allowing them to continue their sustainability. "For every $50 donated, five meals at a cost of $5 each will be made by the restaurant owners who will receive the amount in exchange. In exchange, the restaurant owner agrees to give $25 gift cards to encourage donors to consume in their restaurants and thus ensure a minimum of viability in these difficult times," says Noémie Poirier, coordinator of the socio-financing campaign. In addition to receiving a gift card and committing a gesture of humanity to BAM, people in need and restaurant owners, donors will also be able to receive a tax receipt for the monetary portion allocated to the meals.

"For our committee, it is important to help as many people and businesses as possible. We have put a lot of energy into contacting restaurant owners in the Memphremagog MRC and also any food or related product manufacturers who can contribute and benefit from the visibility of this campaign," adds Pierre Robinette, committee member and owner of La Maison Drew.

"For our agency, it's not just about offering communication tools. It is part of our social mission to help our community and we invite everyone to help us exceed our goal. The more we raise, the more we help our citizens in need and our local businesses to lessen the impact of this pandemic," adds Louise Côté, committee member and president of Lacosta Communication.

The community of Memphrémagog and the surrounding area is invited to visit the social fundraising page to generously contribute to this humanitarian project. The committee also invites other agri-food producers and businesses in the region to enhance the Memphremagog Food Bank's baskets with their products in order to diversify their content and showcase their creations.

Link for donations: https: //laruchequebec.com/projet/ensemblememphremagog-contre-pandemie-7063

Noémie Poirier
Campaign Coordinator
noemiepoirier@hotmail.com

Louise Côté
Lacosta communication
louise@lacosta.ca
819 943-1932

Andrée Gagnon
Executive Director
Memphremagog Food Bank
819 238-6958
bamcoordo@cgocable.ca

Pierre Robinette
La Maison Drew
info@maisondrew.com
819 843-8480