Only one week left until Christmas…
And as we continue to tell you about the kind gestures that marked our year, it's the perfect time to tell you about an initiative that is particularly close to our hearts at Patio Drummond: Operation Santa Claus.
Since 2022, Patio Drummond has been actively involved in Operation Santa Claus, an initiative aimed at helping children from disadvantaged families experience the magic of Christmas, fulfill a small dream, and receive gifts, just like all other children during this special time.
This initiative is carried out in close collaboration with several organizations in our region that help families facing particular situations such as poverty, abandonment, or great vulnerability, including adolescents and young adults. Among them: the CIUSSS, the DPJ, Rose des Vents, community organizations, and early childhood centers.
The targeted children may live with their parents, be housed in a youth center, be awaiting a foster family, or be preparing to live alone in an apartment. They are identified by the workers of these organizations due to the high risk of not receiving any gifts at Christmas.
To make this operation a success, Patio invites its employees and acquaintances to become Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus for a child or a sibling group.
Each participant receives a letter or a drawing from a child addressed to the real Santa Claus, in which the child shares what they would like to receive for Christmas. Participants then commit to buying one or more requested gifts, according to an average budget established each year. The gifts are carefully wrapped and accompanied by a card addressed to the child, signed "Santa Claus," to preserve all the magic of the moment.
Every year, Santa Claus can count on the invaluable help of his head elf, Johanne Levasseur. She ensures the smooth organization of Operation Santa Claus, from the preparation and distribution of letters to the collection and delivery of gifts, which she personally delivers to each organization.
Johanne performs this role with meticulous care, paying particular attention to the small details that make all the difference. Her eyes sparkling with happiness, she deeply believes in the magic of Christmas and wishes every child to fully feel it on the day they receive their gift.
Upon receiving the children's letters, Johanne prepares their assignment to participants based on the affinities she knows of the Santas and Mrs. Clauses on her list. She takes the time to personalize the delivery of the letters in old Patio envelopes, to make the gesture even more special and magical. She adds clear and important instructions for gift wrapping, including the child's identification code, and emphasizes the importance of writing a letter to the child to make the moment even more magical. She also ensures that every child receives a letter, without exception. When a family has several children and one of them has received a letter while another has not, Johanne makes sure to write one personally so that this child also feels unique and important.
Thanks to her exceptional involvement and that of the 48 Santas and Mrs. Clauses, 106 children will see their Christmas dreams come true this year.
Watch the video here where Johanne addresses a message to the Santas and Mrs. Clauses before the gift distribution.
Fresh donuts and more... for a good cause
In addition to the individual gift collection, Patio also organizes a unifying and gourmet event: Donut Day.
Two Donut Days were organized this year, on April 18 and November 20. On these occasions, traditional donuts were prepared right here at Patio, according to our own recipe. Team members could purchase them, and all funds raised were donated to Operation Santa Claus.
A sale of items and clothing from the Patio boutique at low prices was also organized, and all profits were also donated to Operation Santa Claus.
In total, over $1,000 was raised. And thanks to this collection, several gifts could be purchased. It is deeply inspiring to see how much our teams care about helping and making a real difference.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Christmas shine during this 2025 edition of Operation Santa Claus. See you next year!!
