A few months after resigning as head of the food and furniture bank he started more than 30 years ago, well-known Halifax humanitarian Mel Boutilier is ready to discuss his new venture.

“Over the years, in my work in the community for nearly 31 years, I've identified many needs that are not being met right now,” says Boutilier.

Boutilier resigned from the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank in the spring. At the time, the 86-year-old told CTV News that changes to administration had made it impossible for him to stay.

Over the last few months, Boutilier has formed an organizing committee, has registered Metro Care and Share Society with the registry of joint stock companies, and is now getting ready to apply for charity status.

Boutilier says Metro Care and Share will be an umbrella organization, which means he will be able to develop other programs as he sees the need arise. 

The organization will focus on youth education. Boutilier says he knows families that have children who could go on to do great things if they got a little help along the way.

“They don't have the means to get to the training, or the college, or any place to get training or education to help them and break the cycle of poverty,” says Boutilier.

The other focus will be helping people in emergency situations, by providing funding for all sorts of dilemmas.

“Such things as, if they have an aching tooth, to get a tooth out. I've helped people with funding to get a tooth out,” says Boutilier.

Boutilier’s wife Thelma understands it may not seem reasonable to some that her husband is starting a new charity at the age of 86, but she fully supports him.

“I have no difficulty in supporting him in that, because that's who he is basically, so what he does for other people, he does for me too,” says Thelma, who will celebrate her 60th wedding anniversary next week.

“I just am thankful that I'm married to a man that is overly generous.”

Boutilier says he is excited about his new venture, which he hopes to launch in the fall.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster