A prize worth sharing

>>

Share the Warmth, an organization devoted to providing food and clothing to residents of Montreal's southwest region, was the honoured recipient of this year's Helen Prize.

In a ceremony held on March 8 at Concordia's Faculty Club, some 100 invited guests came out to applaud the work of 23 women who were recognized for their "positive contributions to life on earth." The Helen Prize, named in honour of snubbed Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Helen Caldicott for her previous work as an antinuclear activist and Head of Physicians for Nuclear responsibility, is awarded every year to women who make outstanding contributions to their communities.

Created in 1989, Share the Warmth has rapidly expanded its role from clothing collection to food distribution, now providing hot meals to residents of the southwest and to undernourished children across Montreal. "There is a lot of magic attached to Share the Warmth," said award recipient Carol Lupovich, who co-founded the group with Judy Stevens. "Ever since we started, it has just snowballed and everything has fallen into place."

The $1,000 prize will be put towards the organization's next project, a teen centre in Point St-Charles which is expected to open this May. "We are what we are through growth and need," said Lupovich. : --Gemma Wilson

more news...