In Montreal, the journalist Louis-Philippe Messier is mainly on the run, with his office in his backpack, looking for fascinating topics and people. He speaks to everyone and is interested in all areas of life in this city chronicle.
In the Disney story, singing mice help poor Cinderella dress for the ball.
“Things aren’t quite that simple in real life, especially when we’re dressing several hundred little Cinderellas for their prom because otherwise they wouldn’t have the funds,” says Linda Blouin, a retired teacher. .
Photo Louis Philippe Messier
Fairy Godmothers founder Linda Blouin
She founded Les Fées Marraines 9 years ago and now a small army of volunteers work with her.
“Collecting donations of clothes, shoes, bags, makeup and jewelry is year-round work! »
Ms Blouin can count on her mother Madeleine, 84, to sort through and rub (to restore her shine) the jewelry received from sponsors.
Last chance this Friday
Photo Louis Philippe Messier
Two volunteers sort hundreds of bags.
Expecting an increase in demand this year, the fairies are preparing for 400 Cinderellas… but on the eve of their dress-up weekend in the Pierre Dupuy school gymnasium, only 300 beneficiaries turned up.
“This Friday is the last chance To online and make an appointment on Saturday or Sunday,” says Ms. Blouin.
“Some underprivileged young people have jobs, but it is unreasonable to spend several weeks of salary when you can call the fairy godmothers! »
A similar fitting (already completed) will take place shortly for jackets.
pink carpet
About fifty canvas dressing rooms await hundreds of young girls.
Everyone will arrive on a pink carpet and will be assisted by two fairies to choose from around 2,500 dresses, including those of the “beauties” from the old show Le Banquier and an authentic Dior.
“I’m from Morocco, where I didn’t have the opportunity to have a ball, so I make up for it by helping local girls attend,” confides Kenza Mahrouch, the fairies’ treasurer.
“Now that we’ve sorted the clothes by size, we’re going to organize them by color to make it easier to choose,” explains Mélissa, a volunteer.
Yesterday, around 30 volunteers were busy setting up the “shop” in which 400 graduates can be dressed.
“I took two days off from my job at Desjardins to be here,” says Danielle Bardeau, who is in charge of logistics, which will involve 250 volunteers this weekend.
► Further information and registration: feemarraines.ca
Do you have any information about this story that you would like to share with us?
Do you have a scoop that might be of interest to our readers?
Write to us or call us directly at 1-800-63SCOOP.