Together, let’s share a little warmth : Renaissance launches the 4th edition of the Walls of Kindness

11.10.2025 | News, Stores

Montreal, November 13, 2025 – On the occasion of World Kindness Day, Renaissance is launching the 4th edition of Les Murs de la gentillesse (Walls of Kindness), a major coat drive to support the most vulnerable. From November 13 to 27, the public is invited to donate a winter coat at one of seven participating Renaissance thrift stores across the Greater Montreal area.

This year, Renaissance is introducing a new approach: instead of the traditional “Walls of Kindness,” the organization will collect coats directly in stores. This change makes the initiative more accessible to loyal donors, offering more drop-off points and making it easier for everyone to participate—including those who couldn’t reach the previous outdoor walls. By centralizing the collection in thrift stores located in the heart of communities, Renaissance hopes to gather even more coats to help those facing winter in difficult circumstances.

In collaboration with Phé-Nix, a Montreal-based organization that works directly with people experiencing homelessness—including those not reached by traditional aid networks—the collected coats will be distributed in the field, where the need is greatest. Together, the two organizations aim to collect more than 2,500 coats to bring warmth and dignity as winter approaches.

“As the holidays draw near, every donated coat is a gesture of solidarity that can truly change someone’s day. By joining forces with Phé-Nix, we want to meet people where they are and remind them that they are not forgotten,” says Éric St-Arnaud, Executive Director of Renaissance.

A simple, accessible, and compassionate collection

From November 13 to 27, citizens are invited to drop off a warm coat—for men, women, or children—in the marked blue bins outside participating stores:

  • Fripe Des Laurentides (Laval)

  • Fripe Galeries Mille-Îles (Rosemère)

  • Fripe Saint-Laurent (Montreal)

  • Fripe Saint-Jacques (Montreal)

  • Fripe Centre Domaine (Montreal)

  • Fripe Plaza Anjou (Montreal)

  • Fripe Saint-Bruno (Montérégie / South Shore)

The coats will be sorted by volunteer teams before being distributed on December 2, during Giving Tuesday, at a large-scale event organized with Phé-Nix and other community partners serving people experiencing homelessness.

“When you live on the streets, the cold doesn’t wait. Every coat handed out means one more night that’s a little more bearable—a gesture that restores faith in humanity. This collaboration with Renaissance is more than a partnership; it’s a collective call from the heart to protect the most vulnerable,”
says Michel Couture, Founding President of Phé-Nix.

A chain of solidarity in action

Thanks to the commitment of donors, volunteers, and partners, this initiative aims to collect over 2,500 coats and reach as many isolated individuals as possible. Beyond the physical warmth they provide, these coats symbolize a collective spirit of compassion and mutual aid.

“The Walls of Kindness are more than a collection drive—they’re an outstretched hand, an invitation to take a simple action that restores warmth and humanity,”
concludes Éric St-Arnaud.

About Renaissance

Founded in 1994, Renaissance is a Quebec-based non-profit organization that combines social and professional reintegration with a circular economy model. With a network of over 70 donation centers and 40 stores across Quebec, Renaissance gives a second life to goods while helping thousands of people reintegrate into the workforce. Since its creation, the organization has helped over 11,600 people find employment or return to school. In 2024, nearly 2 million donations were received, and 31,000 tons of goods were diverted from landfills. Every purchase and donation contributes to a tangible social and environmental impact, making Renaissance a key player in sustainable development in Quebec.

About Phé-Nix

Phé-Nix is a community organization based in Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix that supports individuals experiencing homelessness or severe hardship. Active in Montreal, Longueuil, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Trois-Rivières, and Gatineau, the organization provides referrals and transportation to therapy programs or affordable housing (HLM), as well as food deliveries. Through hands-on initiatives and close community involvement, Phé-Nix restores warmth, dignity, and hope to those living on the margins of society, particularly in Montreal’s Southwest and parts of Montérégie.