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A new community thrift store in Longueuil helping to break social isolation among seniors
On September 24, Les Petits Frères officially celebrated the opening of its new Boutique Les Petits Frères in Greenfield Park with a warm evening reception attended by partners, donors, volunteers, team members, content creators, and several representatives from the region’s political community.
Although the store has been welcoming customers since September 10, the event provided an opportunity to officially mark the opening of this new location, a significant milestone in the history of Boutiques Les Petits Frères.
Located at 310 Gladstone Street in Greenfield Park, this new address becomes the fourth Boutique Les Petits Frères and, most importantly, the first to open outside the Island of Montreal. This expansion reflects the steady growth of the organization’s retail activities, which have become an important source of support for its mission of assisting seniors experiencing loneliness and social isolation.
Growth in Support of the Mission
Today, Boutiques Les Petits Frères play an important role in the organization’s funding model. Through donated goods, purchases made in-store, and the dedication of numerous volunteers, they directly support the programs and services offered across Quebec to Great Friends.
This new location on the South Shore comes at a time when needs are growing. In the Montérégie region, nearly one in five people is aged 65 or older. The opening of the store will help strengthen Les Petits Frères’ presence in the area while mobilizing more community members, volunteers, donors, and partners around this essential mission.
As Catherine Harel Bourdon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Les Petits Frères, noted:
A Tangible Impact for the Community and the Environment
Beyond its financial contribution, the opening of a fourth Boutique Les Petits Frères is part of a circular economy approach that gives a second life to thousands of quality items. This model promotes responsible consumption, reduces waste, and makes affordable goods accessible to the community.
The results clearly demonstrate the value of this approach. In 2024-2025, the three established Montreal stores generated $568,841 in support for Les Petits Frères, thanks to more than 89,000 transactions completed throughout the year.
Every purchase, donated item, and volunteer hour helps support the seniors accompanied by the organization while also making a positive contribution to the environment.
A Meaningful Community Gathering
The official grand opening on September 24 was also an opportunity to thank the many partners whose support helped make both the project and the event a success.
Les Petits Frères would like to extend its sincere thanks to FRANCHIR for organizing this wonderful evening, Grazing Mesa for providing delicious refreshments, and Mark Anthony Group for its generous contribution of wine.
A special thank you goes to everyone who attended and whose commitment and support continue to help this meaningful project grow.
This new store is a powerful example of how social impact, community engagement, and the circular economy can work hand in hand. It is a winning model that enables Les Petits Frères to continue its mission and provide isolated seniors with the caring companionship they need to age with dignity and connection.
