🎁 Banques Alimentaires du Québec (S3.13)

janie724
Nov 27, 2025
3 min read

Episode released on November 25, 2025

In this episode of the Kick’s Cheer Podcast, Janie, Nadia and Keaven welcome Véronique Beaulieu-Fowler, Director of Philanthropy at the Banque Alimentaires du Québec. With Kicksmas approaching, the team wanted to highlight where the collected food and donations actually go… and more importantly, the direct impact on local families.

Between myths, on-the-ground realities, complex logistics and striking statistics, this episode reveals everything the public usually never sees.

ÉCOUTER SUR SPOTIFY

Kicksmas: Giving for Real

Every year, athletes, parents, coaches and spectators arrive with arms full of donations. The result? The cheer community stands out for its constant generosity, which grows every season.

And this year brings a major addition:👉 An official QR code allowing people to donate money directly to the Banque Alimentaires du Québec.

A live counter will also show, in real time, the impact of all donations.

💡 Every $1 donated = 2 meals distributed.

🍽️ Understanding the Mission of Banques Alimentaires du Québec

What most people don’t realize is that Banques Alimentaires du Québec operates as a structured province-wide network, made up of:

33 member organizations (including 18 Moissons)
1,400 partner community groups
600,000 people helped every month
15% of the population living with food insecurity

It affects everyone: workers, single-parent families, students, people living with illness… and 35% of those who receive support are children.

As Véronique reminds us:

No one is immune. A separation, job loss, illness, rising costs… and everything can collapse overnight.

📉 Why the Demand Is Exploding

Several factors explain the dramatic increase in need:

skyrocketing cost of living
rising grocery prices
the pandemic, which destabilized thousands of families
wages not keeping up
housing that is far too expensive (a non-compressible budget)

The grocery budget, however, is compressible, which means people cut food first to pay everything else.

The result? Many people go into debt just to eat.

And the more severe the food insecurity, the more it impacts:

physical health
energy levels
concentration
cognitive function

🧩 Banques Alimentaires du Québec : A Gateway to Other Services

Banques Alimentaires du Québec don’t just feed people. They often become:

a point of stability,
a gateway to other services,
a place where people in crisis are guided and supported.

It’s often where people realize the seriousness of their situation… and where they find the help they need to get back on their feet.

🚚 How Your Donations Are Used

Here’s what happens to the donations collected at Kicksmas:

Moisson Outaouais picks up the donated goods.
The items are sorted and categorized.
They are distributed according to the needs of local organizations.
They’re combined with other programs (poultry, milk, fruits, vegetables).
Food baskets are then delivered to families.

And when there isn’t enough? Some organizations must reduce the size of baskets… or even refuse new requests (10% did so last year due to lack of resources).