2 mothers who also lost children start 'meal train' to feed grieving family after parade tragedy

The family of a little girl who died following an incident atthe Parade of Lights in Yarmouth, N.S., over the weekend won't have to worry about preparing meals leading up to Christmas.

Anchor for Hope, anon-profit group based in Yarmouth, has organized a "meal train"for MaCaliCormier'sfamily. Volunteerssign uptocook for the familyeach day leading up to Christmas. The groupthen delivers the meal.

"People filled up really quickly.In less than an hour, I was expanding dates and they were getting filled up," said Sarah Robicheau, co-founder of Anchor for Hope.

"People were dropping off snacks [and]non-perishable food, so we've been bringing over boxes of food, donations of gift cards, cheques, all kinds of things."

Robicheau has been dropping off the meals to MaCali's family. She said they're "definitely appreciative, definitely overwhelmed with love and support."

On Monday night, about 300 people attended a vigil for the four-year-old girlat Frost Park in Yarmouth. A funeral is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. atYarmouthWesleyan Church.

A simple gesture like a home-cooked mealcan make a big difference to a grieving family, Robicheausaid. She said it made a big difference for her after shehad a stillbirth in 2012 and lost a child to SIDS in 2014.

"I know when I was a few days out of a loss, it's really hard to process anything. You're worrying about every possible thingat that point," Robicheau said.

"It's close to the holidays, there are bills, it's impossible to return to work.... I think it's just a huge burden that's being lifted off of them so they can grieve how they need to grieve."

Robicheau, along with Jody Levac, started Anchor for Hope in 2014. Both are moms who have had young children pass away.

The group started out by sending comfort boxes to mothers whohad miscarriages,stillbirths or experienced the death of a baby.Items in a comfort box include a list of resources, a Bible, journal, pens, bubble bath, candles and tea.

Robicheau said the meal train is full, but she's still going through messages to the group's page from people wanting tohelp MaCali'sfamily.

"The community as a whole has really pulled together," she said.