SA Q comes through in pinch for needy

In mid- March, before most Quebec businesses were forced to shut down, it wasn’t uncommon to see long lineups at provincial liquor stores.

“It was like Christmas, business- wise. People thought that we were closing and were stocking up, just like they were doing at the grocery store,” said Catherine Dagenais, president and CEO of Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). “We were making more money than usual, which was great, but I was very preoccupied with the fact that the food banks of Quebec were really struggling. They were running out of food and volunteers.”

Dagenais quickly called an in-house meeting and, as a result, the SAQ decided to donate $1 million to the Banques Alimentaires du Québec ( BAQ), which receives more than 1.9 million requests for food assistance every month.

“I was really happy that we were able to share what we could in March, but it wasn’t going to stop there,” she said. “It was just the kickoff.”

With every in- store purchase customers are being asked to make a donation to the BAQ, whatever they can, between May 14 and 23. For those ordering online and having their wine and spirits delivered to their homes, the SAQ is donating 100 per cent of the delivery fee to the BAQ.

“With online sales exploding, we thought it made sense to maintain the $12 delivery fee that we’ve always charged, per case, but give all of the (delivery fee) proceeds away to the food banks,” said Dagenais. “So every time a consumer orders online and has their order shipped to their house, 36 meals are donated to the food banks.”