Service sociaux communautaire: Aînés-Familles-Jeunesse :
Foundation and local roots since 1979, COCLA (Laurentian Community Corporation) was born from a desire to meet the essential needs of Saint-Laurent residents. Initially, the organization mainly worked to address food insecurity by providing access to nutritious meals for families and seniors in the neighborhood. Our organization is driven by values of mutual aid and solidarity. COCLA quickly established itself as a key player in local community life.From modest beginnings to a sustainable vision: COCLA established itself in the Saint-Laurent neighborhood to help Latino communities facing food insecurity and integration into the Canadian way of life. Today, it serves beneficiaries from all corners of the world, but primarily from Arab, African, European, and Asian backgrounds.
COCLA’s early initiatives (1979-2005) included food distributions in the form of baskets, along with a community meal, aimed at low-income families. Supported by a team of dedicated volunteers, the organization has grown while adapting its services to emerging needs.
Between 2010 and 2015, COCLA began developing projects focused on social inclusion and the solidarity economy, recognizing that poverty and isolation require global and sustainable solutions.