Bota Bota x Chic Resto Pop

The weeks leading up to the holiday season at Bota Bota are an opportunity to give time, energy, and kindness to those who need it most. This year, several employees gathered at Chic Resto Pop in Hochelaga for a few hours of mutual aid.

Chic Resto Pop is a social and professional reintegration enterprise, a social economy initiative, and a community action organization nestled in the heart of Hochelaga. The organization has found a home in a former church, which now houses a dining hall, a restaurant in the nave, community kitchens in the basement, and offices in the presbytery.

On this chilly early December day, eight members of Bota Bota and their families came together with the aim of supporting the on-site volunteers. One group took charge of reception and the solidarity grocery store, while the other headed to the basement to handle food storage logistics.

The holiday solidarity grocery initiative is organized by Chic Resto Pop in collaboration with six other neighborhood organizations to support the many people in need in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve area just before the holidays. This initiative takes the form of a fully stocked grocery store, offering numerous products, particularly for low-income families.

Several beneficiaries arrived, grocery bags in hand, some accompanied by children of all ages, to take advantage of this moment of financial relief. While a Bota Bota volunteer welcomed them at the entrance, her colleagues managed the tables set up for the grocery store, ensuring they assisted those attending the event.

In the basement, the remaining employee volunteers worked with determination to move, store, and count products. Their speed even surprised the lead Chic Resto Pop volunteer, who, by the end of the day, was relieved to finish earlier than usual thanks to their efficiency.

These few hours of volunteering at Chic Resto Pop serve as an important reminder that mutual aid, solidarity, and year-round kindness are fundamental pillars of a society in need.

To learn more about Chic Resto Pop,visit: chicrestopop.com

Photos ©Thibault Carron