Kuujjuaq free store closed due to vandalism
Organizers behind I Care, We Care say store will reopen when a new location is found
Kuujjuaq’s free store, I Care, We Care, which also ships donated clothing to all Nunavik communities, is temporarily closed after vandals trashed the building. (Photo by Elaine Anselmi)
A free store in Kuujjuaq that supports families with food, clothing, books and household goods was trashed by vandals last week, forcing its closure.
But the people behind I Care, We Care are optimistic they’ll reopen in a matter of weeks.
“Right now, we’re still looking for a location but for sure it will reopen,” said Jacques Bertrand, who is director of Ungava community housing and is responsible for the project.
“The question is where and when.”
On Sept. 12, staff at I Care, We Care walked in the door to find the free store’s contents scattered throughout the rooms and halls of the building, and red crayon scribbled across the walls.
Photographs posted on Facebook show clothing, dishes and books strewn across the floor and food and paint spilt throughout. Plastic containers are crammed into a sink and children’s clothing is shoved into a toilet.
Major repairs were needed following the break-in: windows were smashed, and paint and excrement had to be cleaned from the carpet and tiles, according to a Facebook post.
Pickup truck-loads of clothing were brought to the dump.
“It’s sad what happened, but tough things happen and you have to learn from that and the next question is what are you going to do about it,” Bertrand told Nunatsiaq News.
Right now, that means finding a new location.
As well as supporting Kuujjuamiut, I Care, We Care partners with northern airlines to bring donated clothing to all 14 Nunavik communities.
For the past couple of years, Bertrand said, they’ve been in contact with each community, asking whether they want donated clothing, and working with the Société Saint-Vincent de Paul in Montreal to get the wanted donations together.
First Air ships the clothing up to Kuujjuaq from Montreal for free, and Air Inuit brings it into the communities, also at no cost.
While the old building is being cleaned up, staff are busy working with their partners to move their plans forward.
“Even in adversity, there’s always opportunity,” Bertrand said.
That’s not a surprise in the great town. The negative energy is manifested once again. This is predictable behaviour, where mentally challenging people are living misery day in day out, without any vision of wellness. This is on the same lines as suicide and other behaviours that could be manifested instead. These are the same challenge individuals seem speeding around on atv without any sense of life or death.
I agree with you, very sad indeed, many youth cannot handle this epidemic sickness called suicide, they are so hurt by many issues.
some blame alcoholic parents not thinking of their own children, some have relationship problems boyfriend/girlfriend, poverty involved, many don’t eat for days.
Many failures in life struggles, please listen to your child(ren) start at least prioritising your child(re) instead of just buying alcohol or drugs, many young parents cannot handle their children, get help, listen to your child’s pain, let your child throw out the pain, they need love too, you’re the one who gave birth to your child etc.
Many young fathers are abandoning their girlfriends with children, just to go out drinking for days!
I live in kuujjuaq , and it is a sad sad little town