Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to highlight the 70th anniversary of the St-Vincent-de-Paul Conference in Mont-Laurier.
This flagship organization has played a crucial role in the community for decades, running a second-hand store where clothing, furniture and household items are offered at a lower cost. It also has a community hall that it makes available to seniors and social groups. On top of that, it provides people in need with food vouchers that can be exchanged for food, a program worth a total of $80,000 a year. This community-based organization hosts weekly dinners and soup kitchens. These full meals help many people overcome their isolation.
I am grateful to the team of volunteers who work so hard to help maintain the social fabric of our community. I thank Claude Ménard and Monique Venne for their 50 years of volunteer work.