Rhonda Massad – Community Activist
Rhonda focuses on community issues that touch the heart of many on the West Island. She lends her social media force to local charities to give them a voice. Through her viral, award winning, news blog, the West Island News, she can help those in need reach out and get much-needed resources that they may otherwise not know about. This match making has become an integral part of her efforts to unite the community.
Rhonda sits on the board of directors of Ricochet, an emergency homeless shelter for youth in the West Island.
She sat on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the West Island and continues to volunteer for the cause today. During her youngest child’s term at West Island College Rhonda sat on their board as well.
In 2016, Rhonda and her friend Stephanie started the Neighbours 4 Neighbours food drive, a one-day event, which raised more than 750 cases of food for those in need on the West Island. The food and monies raised that day were donated to local food banks such as On Rock, West Island Assistance Fund, John Abbott Food Bank, Sainte Anne’s Food Bank and West Island Mission.
During the spring 2017 flooding on the West Island, Rhonda spearheaded the Food Drive Depot at Fairview and Pointe Claire Plaza which raised more than 6,000 cases of food a day for six days which benefitted the flood victims by way of West Island Mission, Ste Anne’s Food Bank and John Abbott College Food Bank. Hundreds of volunteers came to join her in her quest to lessen the suffering of those in need. Her blog joined forces with other West Island social media groups to inform those impacted throughout the crisis. West Island Community Shares partnered with Rhonda mid way to provide infrastructure for fundraising. The special fund has raised close to $75,000 to date.
Rhonda is currently a member of the Canadian Women’s Congress and volunteers for the West Island Women’s Shelter. Rhonda can often be found trumpeting praise for charitable groups such as the West Island Wellness Centre, West Island Community Shares, Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation and West Island Palliative Care to name only a few.