Oh how we love the Coop La Maison Verte, the socially and environmentally conscious cooperative business a block over on Sherbrooke Street West!! Over the years, monthly donor Kurt Houghton and the rest of the Coop team have generously supported Head & Hands, offering discounts, gift certificates, and stepping in when the going gets tough. Last fall, upon hearing that we’d lost funds for our Emergency Food Pantry, the team and members at the CLMV stepped in, designating a percentage of their coffee sales to help bring back this vital service. Thanks to monthlies like Kurt, we know the power of solidarity-based fundraising models. Together we are strong!

Name: Kurt Houghton
Monthly since: April 2011
Day job: Store Coordinator of Coop La Maison Verte
How I first fell in love with Head & Hands: When I first started working at the Coop, we didn’t have a microwave and I was told I could go down the block and use H&H’s. We’ve since gotten a microwave, but eating my lunch with H&H was a great intro to the neighbourhood.
As a teenager I was passionate about: Video-games, but thankfully I’ve moved on to more interesting pursuits.
On a lazy afternoon I: sit around playing with my son and his (our) Lego
Song I have stuck in my head right now: “Money I$ King” by Lee Fields & the Expressions
Fave MTL restaurant: There are too many to choose just one so it depends on the kind of food you’re in the mood for. In no particular order: Burritoville, Edouardo’s, Zero8, Jean’s, Bonaparte, La Banquise, 5 Saisons, Maison India, and the list goes on and on.
Midnight snack: Can’t always be too picky at that hour, but something salty (chips, popcorn, etc) is my preference
Current activism, community involvement, other projects: I’ve been really busy with school these days, but prior to that I was involved in community economic development as a board member of the CDN-NDG CDEC. It’s the kind of work I’d like to do more of in the future.
First thing I do when I get home is: Sadly, these days its laundry or dishes or something like that, but ideally it’d be put on my slippers and play with my family.
Can’t live without: Karina (Editor”s note: awwww)
One wish: That there were more hours in the day
Fave book, zine, magazine, blog to read: Protégez-vous, The Dominion, The Onion, and the amazing variety of articles, blogs, etc. through my social network friends
Why I commit to Head & Hands: Despite the fact that everyone was once young, it’s surprising how little our society listens to and respects their future workers & leaders. Thank you to H&H for making this a priority.

Tags: donors, monthly donations, superstars, we love our members, why i commit