At The Depot, we believe community care is reciprocal. Our neighbourhood is strongest when support moves in many directions, and when everyone has a way to contribute.
We see this every day. Someone picking up food one week and volunteering the next. A community member sharing cooking skills in a workshop. A neighbour spreading the word about our programs. And many people choose to give financially to help sustain this work. Whether it’s time, skills, or a donation, every contribution matters.
That’s why we’re so grateful for our partnership with Friperie Déjà Vu, a Large Thrift Store on St-Jacques in NDG.
Since 2025, Friperie Déjà Vu has supported The Depot in a simple and practical way: for every two bags of clothing or 2 medium boxes of household goods donated to their store, they donate $3 to The Depot. Last year, this added up to $7,512 in support for nourishing food and community programming.
“When we started this partnership, we didn’t know what to expect — and we’ve been so encouraged by how much it’s grown. Each month, Andrew shares the amount raised, and it’s a reminder that small actions really do add up. We’re grateful to Andrew, Chloé, and the whole Friperie Déjà Vu team for their steady support of this community.”
-Jennifer Brennan, Interim Co-Executive Director
For us, this partnership offers a tangible way to give. Since 2020, we’ve shifted away from accepting food donations in order to focus on purchasing nourishing, culturally diverse food in a more strategic way. While that change was important, it meant letting go of a familiar way for people to contribute.
This collaboration opens another door. When you donate clothing or household items you no longer need, you’re helping in two ways: first by donating useful items, and again by contributing financially to local food programs.
As Friperie Déjà Vu shared with us:
“We chose to work with The Depot because we see their impact every day in our community. Beyond sharing values of sustainability and reducing waste, we know first-hand how important their services are. People close to us, including within our own stores, have turned to The Depot during difficult times, and that lived connection makes our partnership deeply meaningful.”
Today, 1 in 5 people in Montreal experience food insecurity. While we continue to advocate for long-term solutions, we also need practical ways to respond to urgent needs. Partnerships like this one help us do both: strengthening local businesses, reducing waste, and helping ensure our neighbours have access to nourishing food.
If you have clothing or home goods you no longer need, donate them to Friperie Déjà Vu on St-Jacques. It’s a simple act that helps keep support circulating in our community.
Thank you for being part of it.