Local women’s shelter
celebrates the Holidays

Chez Doris treats nearly 300 to dinner, entertainment and gifts at its Holiday parties

December 15, 2018

On December 12, Chez Doris Women’s Day Shelter welcomed women in need to its annual Holiday meal at the Evangel Church in downtown Montreal. In order to meet the growing number of women in need, Chez Doris organized two back-to-back holiday parties – a lunch and a dinner service.

Nearly 300 women, affected by poverty, homelessness and/or health and mental health problems, were served meals by police officers from Stations 12, 20, and 50, as well as volunteers.

All the women present at the celebration received a gift card of their choice, a Shoebox Project gift box and chocolates.

Entertainment was provided by showman extraordinaire Sheldon Kagan and his DJ/MC Guy Trottier. Montreal crooner Matt Mardini serenaded the ladies and Barbara Diabo, a dancer specializing in Aboriginal hoop dance, presented a dazzling show inspired by her Mohawk origins.

To conclude the event, foot patrol Officer Éric Charbonneau of Station 20 – Sector Ville-Marie, joined in the fun disguised as Santa Claus, distributing gifts. All the women present at the celebration received a gift card of their choice, a Shoebox Project gift box and chocolates.

About Chez Doris

Chez Doris offers services and programs to provide for women’s most basic and immediate needs related to coping with homelessness, poverty, mental illness and/or addictions. It is the only women’s day shelter in Montréal open 7 days a week, from 8:30 am to 3 pm.

Services include: breakfast and lunch; access to showers, hygienic products, and a clothing depot; emergency food bags; 6 respite beds; telephone information and referral assistance; custodial services and a financial management program; an Inuit assistance program; an Aboriginal housing program; health and mental health services; legal and tax filing services; as well as educational and socio-recreational integration programs. Chez Doris’ drop-in program welcomes up to 100 women per day. This fiscal year, Chez Doris will receive more than 2,000 different women and serve more than 42,000 meals.

For more information and to donate visit chezdoris.org

Images: courtesy of Chez Doris

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