Mel Boutilier donates 'truckloads' of goods to Syrian refugees

Thrift shop founder Mel Boutilier is donating "truckloads" of supplies for Syrians coming to Nova Scotia as he clears out a store in advance of its closing.   

Metro Care and Share, which opened in June, will close at the end of December because a new apartment building is going up at the Agricola Street location. 

"We had truckloads, huge truckloads of supplies. Household items, furnishings, all kinds of things people will need when they're setting up a home, an apartment, whatever they're able to get. We have silverware, dishes, pots and pans," said Boutilier.

'They're like brothers and sisters'

Boutilier, 87, is well known for starting in 1983 the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, which serves between 200 and 300 local families in need each. He resigned from his position there in 2014.

When the opportunity came to help Syrian refugees, he said he knew he could help.

"I sort of visualized what it would be like if we had a war going on in our city," said Boutilier.

"It would touch anybody's heart to want to do anything they could to help those people to get re-established. They're like brothers and sisters," he said.

Helping others

Boutilier says there has been a lot of support so far.

"I'm just so happy that so many people have taken an interest in doing everything they can to welcome these hurting people and to make them feel that they're going to be home here and part of our families."

Boutilier has taken his donations to the old Rona location in Bayers Lake, at 350 Horseshoe Lake Drive, where anyone can drop off goods for Syrians.

Drop-off  hours can be found here.

He says he is still looking for a new space so he can continue helping others.