LEWISTON — Patrons of the Franco-American Heritage Center’s monthly French language luncheon, known as La Rencontre, raised $575 last Friday to donate to a relief fund to help the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, recover from the recent train derailment and fire that left 50 people dead or missing and devastated the town’s center.

After reading last Friday’s editorial in the Sun Journal about the relief fund set up by the Town of Farmington, which has been a “sister city” with Lac-Megantic since 1991, Franco Center board of directors president Raymond Lagueux approached Louis Morin, the center’s executive director, as patrons were filing into La Rencontre and suggested taking up a collection.

Morin not only agreed, he committed the Franco Center’s proceeds from the 50-50 raffle from Friday’s La Rencontre, which added an additional $105 to the $470 raised during the collection that will be donated this week to the Lac-Megantic relief fund.

“The majority of people who come to La Rencontre every month, myself included, still have relatives living in Quebec,” Morin says. “I commend Ray Lagueux for seizing the opportunity when the Franco Center was full to take up the collection. Most of the patrons at La Rencontre are elderly and on fixed incomes, which makes their generosity all the more touching.”

For others who wish to donate, the relief fund is established at TD Bank in Farmington. Donations can be delivered in person or mailed to either of the bank’s two Farmington branches, located at 163 Broadway or 670 Wilton Road (zip code 04938). “Lac-Megantic” must be written somewhere on the check.

Copy the Story Link