There's only one week left until Christmas…
And as we continue to tell you about the beautiful 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 that aims to help children from disadvantaged families experience the magic of Christmas, fulfill a small dream and receive gifts, like all other children during this very special time.
This initiative is carried out in close collaboration with several organizations in our region that help families experiencing particular situations such as: Poverty, abandonment, or extreme vulnerability, particularly among 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 waiting for a foster family, or be preparing to live alone in an apartment. They are identified by staff from these organizations because of 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 siblings .
Each participant receives a letter written or a drawing from a child and 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 of the 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 running of Operation Santa Claus, from preparing and distributing letters to collecting and delivering gifts, which she personally carries out with each organization.
Johanne fulfills this role with meticulous care, paying particular attention to the small details that make all the difference. Her eyes shining with happiness, she deeply believes in the magic of Christmas and hopes that every child will fully experience it the day they receive their gift.
Upon receiving the children's letters, Johanne prepares their assignments . to the participants based on the affinities she knows among the Santas and Mrs. Clauses on her list . She takes the time to personalize the delivery of letters She uses vintage Patio envelopes to make the gesture even more special and magical. She includes clear and important gift-wrapping instructions, including the child's identification code, and reminds everyone of the importance of writing a letter to the child to make the moment even more special . She also ensures that every child receives a letter, without exception. When a family has several children and one receives a letter while another doesn't, Johanne makes sure to write one personally, so that child also feels unique and important.
Thanks to his exceptional involvement and that of the 48 Santas and Mrs. Clauses, 106 children will see their Christmas dreams come true this year.
Watch here the video where Johanne addresses a message to Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus before the distribution of gifts.
Fresh doughnuts and much more... for a good cause
In addition to individual gift collection, Patio also organizes a unifying and delicious event: Donut Day.
Two Donut Days were held this year, on April 18th and November 20th . On these occasions, traditional donuts were prepared right here at Patio, using 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 store 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 fundraiser, several gifts were purchased. It's truly inspiring to see how dedicated our teams are to 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 !
