At the Virgil Canada Post office, a simple book sale is doing more than raising money — it’s helping spark conversations about youth mental health in memory of a Niagara teen whose story has inspired a regional movement.
Through the Canada Post Community Foundation, the post office is fundraising to support Pathstone Mental Health in Niagara and its Project Plaid initiative to fund mental health resources in the region.
The post office’s employees in Virgil set up a book sale, with the funds raised in October and November going to Pathstone. Brenda Benoit Ferguson, one of the employees organizing the fundraiser, said the sale has brought in about $500 so far.
“I kind of thought it would maybe be something we would only be able to do for a short time,” she said. “But the amount of books we’ve been donated is kind of amazing.”
Canada Post outlets across Niagara are holding their own fundraisers for Pathstone. One office is selling chilli, while another is selling plaid ribbons.
Pathstone’s Project Plaid runs this Thursday and Friday. Ferguson encourages people to wear plaid and donate. The fundraiser honours 18-year-old Amelia Durocher, who died by suicide.
The initiative, inspired by Durocher’s love of plaid, aims to raise $100,000 for Pathstone Mental Health.
Ferguson said the effort goes beyond raising money.
“It is, of course, to raise money,” she said. “But also to raise awareness and to start conversations, to talk about the importance of our youth getting the help, and you know, if our youth can get help now, imagine what they can be as they grow up.”
This is the post office’s second year partnering with Pathstone. Last year, despite a Canada Post strike, they raised money by selling chocolate bars.
