Giant Tiger didn’t wait for Santa this year. The store teamed up once again with the Club Richelieu to deliver a sleighful of snowsuits to La Friperie, adding an extra layer of warmth to the community this winter. From left to right: Jason Fickes (Store Manager), Diane Asselin (Office Supervisor) and Denise Dubé (Club Richelieu member and driving force behind this annual initiative).
As the chill of winter settles over Cornwall, one act of generosity is warming more than hearts. The Club Richelieu of Cornwall has once again stepped forward to ensure that children in vulnerable families face the cold season with comfort and dignity.
This year, forty brand-new snowsuits — donated through a partnership between Club Richelieu and Giant Tiger — were delivered to La Friperie, a local thrift shop run by volunteers who believe no child should have to brave the cold without proper winter clothing.
But this gesture is about far more than clothing. It’s a reminder of what a community can achieve when people look beyond themselves and come together for the common good.
“Every time we receive these coats, I’m reminded that kindness still moves our city,” says Denise Dumais, Director of La Friperie. “What may seem like a simple garment can mean security, belonging, and warmth to a child who might otherwise go without.”
An initiative of the ACFO, La Friperie has long been a beacon of inclusion and compassion. Its volunteers — including students from École secondaire catholique La Citadelle — devote countless hours sorting, organizing, and welcoming families with open arms.
Each snowsuit represents not only protection against the cold but also a promise that Cornwall’s most vulnerable are not forgotten. As temperatures drop, residents are encouraged to take inspiration from this gesture and help spread warmth where it’s needed most.
Because when a community unites with compassion, everyone stays a little warmer.
La Friperieis open on Mondays. Its entrance is located in La Citadelle’s main parking lot. To drop off a donation or visit the thrift store, please call ahead 613-933-8104.
