West Island Mission

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A groundbreaking collaboration between two West Island community organizations is about to change the face of food security in the region. West Island Mission (WIM) and Meals on Wheels have joined forces to create a shared kitchen facility, with operations expected to begin this spring.

West Island Mission is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing food assistance and other resources to individuals and families in need. The demand for its services has grown exponentially since its inception, leading to continuous expansion of programs and facilities to meet the increasing needs of the West Island community.

The Meals on Wheels program has been serving the West Island community since 1969, when it began operations in a modest church kitchen in Lachine. Over the decades, it has grown significantly, now operating with more than 600 volunteer shoppers, cooks, and drivers across multiple locations. Historically, the program has relied on the generosity of West Island churches to donate kitchen facilities, making this new dedicated space a significant milestone in its evolution.

This joint community initiative, which began with preliminary talks in 2022, represents a unique partnership where Meals on Wheels will sublease the space from WIM for five days per week, while WIM will utilize the facility for its community programs during the remaining two days. The facility was built through a collaborative effort, with Volunteer West Island contributing 75 percent and WIM contributing 25 percent of the resources.

“This kind of partnership is special and doesn’t happen often,” Executive Director of West Island Mission Suzanne Scarrow said to The Suburban. “The entrepreneurial mindset has been crucial in bringing this vision to life.”

The new kitchen facility aims to transform food security services in the West Island, particularly for homebound individuals. Meals on Wheels, which lost access to four of its kitchen facilities during the pandemic, will now have a permanent space to serve its current clients and work through its waiting list. Their clientele consists of individuals who are house-bound for various reasons, and this new facility will help ensure no one is left without access to nutritious meals.

For WIM, the kitchen will serve multiple purposes on its shopping days, including providing clients with light meals and conversation. “We will also be able to transform any food that we are in jeopardy of wasting from Moisson Montréal, our gardens, or community gardens,” Scarrow explained. “It’s not just about providing food – it’s about offering a human touch and recognizing access to food as a fundamental right.”

“Lynda Barrett and I have worked tirelessly to make it all come together,” Scarrow said, acknowledging the extensive effort involved in finalizing leases and various partnership agreements. Barrett, who serves as Executive Director of Volunteer West Island, has been instrumental in expanding Meals on Wheels services throughout the region, including previously establishing new kitchen locations in Dollard-des-Ormeaux. While currently awaiting final permits, the project is targeting a May 1 launch date for cooking operations.

The initiative will also create new volunteer opportunities through corporate partnerships, community members, and client involvement. More than just a food service facility, the space is envisioned as a community hub where people can gather, share meals, and break isolation. “This space will allow people to meet in a communal setting, creating connections that go beyond just providing meals,” Scarrow noted.

While the project’s official branding is set to be unveiled in March, community support has already been overwhelming. “The community has believed in us and been extremely generous,” Scarrow said. “It’s a dream that we envisioned during COVID, and it is finally becoming reality.” n