THE MONTÉRÉGIE WEST COMMUNITY NETWORK (MWCN) has added a new staff member to our Chateauguay Office Team. Cathy Cyr is a long-time community member who has been involved with her community raising her family in this area and contributing as a volunteer in the school system and many other community projects.
The following is her testimony of ‘PAYING IT FORWARD DURING THE PANDEMIC’….
Early on in the pandemic, our family, like many others was often at a loss as to what we could or should be doing. We collectively were fearful, anxious, uncertain, and even felt guilty at times.
Guilty because we knew people that were out risking their lives on a daily basis, while we were safe at home. One of those people was our 23-year-old Stephanie, who is a nurse at the Royal Victoria hospital. It was very difficult not to see her, as we had to protect her grandparents who were quarantined at home at the time. I admit, on several occasions, I would drive to Montreal, and sit and wait as she finished another 12 or 14-hour shift. I needed to see her, to hear her, even if I couldn’t touch her.
Since our outings were pretty much limited to Grocery store, Phamacy, and delivering food and supplies, occasionally I would meet up with an old friend, Kathleen, in the Mc Donald’s parking lot. We both went through drive thru, got a coffee, parked side by side, and talked through open car windows. It was here that our Pay it forward plan was hatched. We realized quickly that even though there was so much negative happening around us, there was a lot of good happening too. We saw first hand community members reach out and offer our daughter and her co-workers support by sewing and donating masks, surgical caps and comfort gifts.
Originally, we figured we knew about 8 people that could really use a pick me up. We created gift baskets with body treats, wine and chocolate. Honestly, we were blown away by the appreciation of the recipients. The messages we received had us all in tears. It wasn’t long before we realized there were so many other people putting themselves out there, to keep the rest of us safe.
Our daughter, Samantha, came up with a great idea. We couldn’t possibly make larger gifts for all the people we wanted to thank, but we could reach more people with little treats. With a few donations from family and friends, and incredibly generous donation from Dimitra Papakostas of Bath Works Eaton Centre, my wonderful husband, daughter, her co-worker and I loaded up a few suitcases, and we were off and running.
Our journey is not over, and as we face this daunting 2nd wave, I encourage anyone who is able to, take the time, reach out to even one person. A phone call, a cooked meal, a small treat. We have a great opportunity to make a difference, and I believe now more than ever is the time that its needed. The following people made our personal journey possible: Bonnie Boutet, Cyanne Cote, Marijke Durning, Elaine Faubert, Mary Hogan, Kathlelen Gearty, Dimitra Papakostas, Katrina Rane Smith, Pauline Wiedow, because of your kindness, generosity and inspiration, we were able to thank 67 nurses and health care providers, 14 teachers and support staff, 4 restaurant workers, 4 grocery store clerks and 4 community caregivers, 1 veterinarian and 1 doctor.
Stay safe everyone, together we can do this…
