Brome Lake residents, business owners, and organizations are joining forces and taking the pledge to support the Christian Vachon Foundation.

The Christian Vachon Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Magog with a mission to support the educational success of vulnerable children. The foundation was founded by Magog resident and firefighter Christian Vachon, who was raised in a single parent household that struggled financially to provide him with the basic necessities and support his interests. He wanted families to have a place to turn to, and decided to start the foundation.

While the Christian Vachon Foundation gets the ball rolling, it depends on members living in the individual communities it supports to take the lead to ensure that the initiative is successful. This year, there are 23 families in Brome Lake who are seeking financial support to ensure that their children can be involved in extra curricular activities, have food in their lunch boxes, and other necessities to go back to school. 

“Last year, Tara Moar from Virgin Hill gave me and my sister Amy (Brown) a call and gave us a little more background on the foundation, what it does, and how they came to be involved with it and asked if we would like to be involved with it,” said Jessica Brown, who is leading the initiative in Brome Lake this year alongside her sister Amy. 

Brown explained that with children that have gone through the public school system, she, Moar, and Amy have seen first hand the differences in the socio-economic status’ of families in the area. 

“We knew that the need was strong. We all feel strongly to make sure that all kids, at least minimally, have some stuff and hopefully, give them enough to succeed as much as possible,” she said. 

Brown noted that the pandemic has put a lot of people in difficult positions financially. 

“Either they have one or more children that they are trying to make sure that, you know, kids grow. They grow out of their clothes, they have to buy snow suits, and snow boots, they need to eat and the cost of food is expensive right now. Minimally, we hope that they can be involved in an extra curricular activity,” mentioned Brown. 

Brown explained that in the Brome Lake area specifically, it is a socio-economic issue, but there is also a link to language with all 23 requests submitted this year coming from Knowlton Academy (all applications to the foundation are submitted through the schools). 

“The kids requiring the biggest aide here are Anglophone kids. There isn’t a demand from the Francophone system right now here, (…) which surprises a lot of people actually,” she said. 

Less applications were submitted this year compared to last year, but Brown noted that with an increase in costs, more financial support is needed. The foundation also looks for people to volunteer their time to get the initiative off the ground in their community. 

“This year, we need to raise $15,000 in order to financially support those 23 children. We are at about $6,200 and that comes from a variety of sources from independent people, families, businesses, companies. (…) A lot of people give at the end of the year to organizations, this one our need is always right now before school,” explained Brown. 

To donate, visit the organization's website. If you want to send a cheque to the foundation, make note that it is to go directly to Brome Lake or Knowlton Academy. If you’re looking for support through the foundation, reach out to the principal of your child’s school. 

For more information about the Christian Vachon Foundation. 

Listen to the full interview below: