Giant Tiger gives $1,500 to Blessed Cupboard

Marie-Eve Lizée, grocery supervisor at Giant Tiger, and wife of store owner/manager Brandyn Gauthier, handed over a cheque for $1,500 on Monday to Jenn and Mike Rusenstrom for the Blessed Cupboard, a charity operated by the Bethel Pentecostal Church in Shawville.
The money raised goes into giving out food baskets just before Christmas, and wherever else they can help out on an as-needed basis.
“We usually help about 100 families at Christmas, from Quyon to Campbell’s Bay, families that are not eligible for support from other food banks,” explained Jenn Rusenstrom. She and her husband, Mike, have helped organize Blessed Cupboard for the past 10-plus years, raising about $10,000 per year.
“The funds are all raised locally, different service clubs and businesses, and people in the community who make donations,” said Mike.
“Say you get laid off in the wintertime, and you hit a stretch for six weeks when there’s no income, we’re able to help bridge that gap. If someone finds themself in that kind of situation, they can reach out for a hand by calling the church,” he said.
The Rusenstroms said that the cost of food has doubled since they started 10 years ago, and that the number of families they’re helping has doubled as well, from about 50 families then to 100 families now.
With a $10,000 annual budget, how significant is a $1,500 contribution?
“Huge. It’s really, really good. It goes a long way,” said Jenn. “And all the money that we raise goes back into local businesses. All the food we buy is local.”
Marie-Eve said the $1,500 was raised through donations by Giant Tiger customers made at the cash when paying for purchases.
“We’re just very glad we can help in any way we can,” she said, adding that she and her husband have raised more than $20,000 for local organizations since taking over at Giant Tiger.

by Charles Dickson
Shawville
Feb. 5, 2024