Montreal ‘Food Pirate’ feeds hundreds in city’s east finish suitable from his doorstep



a person sitting on a bench in front of a building: Raïs Zaidi has a makeshift food distribution station in front of his place in Montreal's east end to give away free overstock from grocery stores and food banks from around the region.


© Sharon Yonan-Renold/CBC
Raïs Zaidi has a makeshift food distribution station in front of his location in Montreal’s east end to give away totally free overstock from grocery suppliers and foodstuff banking institutions from all around the region.

A few evenings a week, as lots of as 300 men and women prevent by Raïs Zaidi’s house in Montreal’s east end.

“My location in front of my house, in this article, is far more nicely recognized now,” mentioned Zaidi, who is normally noticed with a battered tricorn hat resting on his extensive dreadlocks.

“The entire neighbourhood is familiar with about it.”

Zaidi calls himself “Le Pirate Vert” or “Meals Pirate” in English. He, alongside with his associate, dedicates his time to feeding those people in want, performing not just with non-financial gain corporations, but also on his personal — environment up a foods distribution station in entrance of his spot on Dézéry Avenue in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve that has grown preferred in the latest months.

“I give out surplus meals for free to all those who want it,” he stated.

He collects donations from meals banks, food stuff distributors and grocery shops from around the Montreal region. Some providers and corporations he visits regularly, other folks he visits only when they get hold of him to supply overstock or soon-to-expire items. 

“Ordinarily, we get more than enough to fill a small, cube-van form of truck,” explained Zaidi. “There could be weeks where by we get pallets total of stuff. We could get 50 situations of eco-friendly peppers.”

But what he collects is diverse and it really is strike-and-pass up. He gets all the things from hygiene solutions to fresh fruit and canned merchandise. At times, his selection arrives up limited, and other periods he is overcome by donations.

From dumpster diving to trucking around town

Zaidi obtained his get started as a dumpster diver again in 2011 and that’s when he understood the great amount of foods being thrown away.

He later acquired of a food bank in the west end that, the moment its users are fed, throws absent its surplus food items.

Zaidi decided it was time to consider motion. He began building a community of donors in and close to Montreal. He and his lover drive around and significantly to load up their van and bring it back to Zaidi’s put to give the food items away.

At to start with, his neighbours were wary of all the folks coming close to to choose up meals. But inevitably, they realized it was for a excellent bring about, Zaidi suggests, and now some of them pitch in.

Several Montreal businesses have food stuff to give away, he claims, but not all people can pay for to make the journey to just about every area. So, he serves as a middleman, ensuring people in will need are fed.

“We’re hoping to fill the lacking hole amongst individuals who have the food to give and these who want that food,” he claimed.

Before the pandemic struck, he states, most persons utilizing his service had been from the place. 



a man and a woman standing in front of a truck: Raïs Zaidi, right, loads up a cube van with overstock at Banque Alimentaire d'Anjou.


© Sharon Yonan-Renold/CBC
Raïs Zaidi, correct, masses up a cube van with overstock at Banque Alimentaire d’Anjou.

Nevertheless, following virtually a year of public wellbeing restrictions that have brought swaths of the province’s overall economy to a standstill, Daizie is observing a sharp enhance in need.

“Far more and more people today from about the metropolis are creating to me like, ‘Oh, how does it operate? Do I have to live close by? Can I occur decide on up?'” Zaidi stated.

“Just about every two times, you will find any person who is writing or inquiring. You will find a definite want.”

Persons appear by motor vehicle, some others on foot, he says. They are of all ages, and it is really tricky to gauge their reason for in search of meals just by on the lookout at them, he claims. He will not choose, but instead assumes they are there for the reason that they need food stuff.

Zaidi only asks that no one hoards what he has to provide.

Donations have slowed since the holidays, but Zaidi and his associate are executing anything they can to make sure individuals in have to have have one thing to eat.

Earning guaranteed absolutely nothing is wasted, even at foods banking institutions

Serge Gingras, who operates as a logistics co-ordinator at the Banque Alimentaire d’Anjou, mentioned Zaidi’s endeavours assist make sure no meals is thrown away.

“For us, it’s important to not waste just about anything,” Gringas stated. “If we can assistance all those individuals, which is great.”

Gringas reported the foodstuff financial institution receives massive amounts of foods, and fills emergency reduction baskets. All that is remaining more than gets picked up by Zaidi and his companion.

Food reduction is desired in the local community as there is a good deal of need, Gringas suggests. There’s a need to have for food stuff donations and volunteers, he suggests.

“If you will not know what to do with your everyday living for the reason that it really is a pandemic, try out volunteering,” claimed Gringas, noting he started out as a volunteer just before getting to be a personnel member.

“Volunteer function is superior for your overall health.”