Media Advisory - Chez Doris to serve 300 vulnerable and homeless women for its annual holiday meal

MONTREAL, Dec. 10, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - On December 12, 2018 Chez Doris will serve 300 women a holiday meal, a 25% increase from last year. In order to respond to the growing number of women in need, Chez Doris will host two back-to-back holiday parties, a lunch and dinner service, at the reception hall of Evangel Church. Women who are affected by poverty, are homeless and/or have health and mental health problems will be served by police officers from Stations 12, 20, and 50 as well as volunteers, and will be entertained by showman extraordinaire, Sheldon Kagan. To culminate the event, foot patrol Officer Éric Charbonneau, from Station 20 Secteur Ville-Marie, will be dressed as Santa and will distribute gifts.

DATE:	Wednesday, December 12, 2018
TIME:	Hall doors open at 9 AM for the women of Chez Doris
WHERE:	Evangel Church, 2154 St. Catherine Street West, Montreal, QC H3H 1M7
KEY MOMENTS:
10 :15 AM:	Barbara Diabo, who specializes in Aboriginal hoop dance, performs
10 :35 AM:	Dance Floor Opens for the women, police officers and volunteers – animated by Guy Trottier, DJ and MC
11 :30 AM:	Holiday lunch starts and Matt Mardini to serenade the women in several languages
12 :40 PM:	Distribution of wish list gifts, shoebox gifts, and chocolates – with foot patrol Officer Éric Charbonneau as Santa

MEDIA is invited to schedule interviews or photo opportunities from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. For the full schedule and for further details please click here.

Interview opportunities for the media by appointment:

• Interview with Executive Director, Marina Boulos-Winton
• Interview with one or more clients of Chez Doris to learn more of their trajectories
• Interview with Police Officers
• Interview with Sheldon Kagan and his entertainers

ABOUT CHEZ DORIS: Chez Doris offers services and programs to provide for women's most basic and immediate needs related to coping with homelessness, poverty, mental illness and/or addictions. It is the only women's day shelter in Montreal open 7 days a week, from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Services include: breakfast and lunch; access to showers, hygienic products, and a clothing depot; emergency food bags; 6 respite beds; telephone information and referral assistance; financial management program; an Inuit assistance program; an Aboriginal housing program; health and mental health services; legal & tax filing services; as well as educational and socio-recreational integration programs. In 2018-19 Chez Doris will see 2,000 different women this year and provide more than 42,000 meals. www.chezdoris.org.

SOURCE Chez Doris Women's Shelter Foundation

For further information: To schedule interviews or photo opportunities: MEDIA RELATIONS : Véronique Arsenault, Communications, Exponentiel Conseil, Cell : 514-238-6836, [email protected]; SOURCE: Chez Doris Women's Shelter Foundation, Marina Boulos-Winton, Executive Director, Cell : 514-654-7597, [email protected]

Related Links

www.chezdoris.ca