Chez Doris brings holiday warmth to vulnerable mothers and children in Montreal
Posted December 13, 2025 4:48 pm.
Last Updated December 13, 2025 6:08 pm.
For many women experiencing homelessness or extreme vulnerability in Montreal, the holiday season can be a painful reminder of what they lack. This December, however, Chez Doris is working to replace isolation with connection, care and celebration.
On Dec. 13, the downtown day centre hosted a Christmas party for about 30 vulnerable mothers and 60 children. The event featured family portraits, toys, gift cards and boxes of non-perishable groceries donated by Moisson Montréal, giving families both festive moments and practical support.
Founded in 1977, Chez Doris serves more than 1,700 women each year, offering meals, clothing, medical care, financial guidance and access to temporary and permanent housing. Its mission is to empower women in precarious situations while providing a safe, dignified space for support.
‘We want to be sure it’s a Christmas for them’
Executive director Diane Pilote said the mothers-and-children celebration is a unique moment in the year for the organization.
“Today is the Christmas day of our, what we call our party, mother and children,” Pilote said. “It’s one time of the year we are doing that to celebrate our women that we help to find ours, to find a house, to find an affordable house.”
Pilote explained that the event is made possible through the combined efforts of staff, volunteers and donors. Children receive gifts they specifically asked for, while mothers are given comfort items just for themselves.
“They will have a spectacular magic show,” she added, describing activities that also included crafts, face painting and a festive meal. “It’s time of the year that we want to be sure that it’s a Christmas for them. And they will celebrate all together.”
Breaking isolation during a difficult season
Pilote said the holidays can be especially hard for women facing homelessness or precarity, making community gatherings essential.
“For us, every day that we have in December, we try to find a way to break the isolation,” she said. “They are in the middle of, it’s true, it’s a sad period for them often. So they need us, they need everyone.”
She emphasized that Chez Doris aims to create a sense of belonging and safety.
“It’s important for them to feel that there is a family,” Pilote said. “What we try to do, it’s give them this kind of warm welcoming, warm place to be with other women.”
Supporting children and the next generation
Pilote said supporting children is central to the organization’s work, especially during the holidays.
“You know what is the most difficult thing in homelessness or precarity for women? It’s not only about the women, it’s about the next generations,” she said. “So we have to give the next generation hope, love, gift.”
She called the mothers-and-children party the most important Christmas event Chez Doris organizes.
“We want that they feel like all the other,” Pilote said. “We want to be sure that they are spoiled.”
A month of holiday activities and a new warming station
Beyond the Dec. 13 celebration, Chez Doris organized several holiday events throughout December. These include a restaurant outing on Dec. 15 for 46 women living in the organization’s residences, festive meals from Dec. 16 to 18 served by volunteers and Montreal police, and a New Year’s Day brunch on Jan. 1 featuring bingo and small gifts.
Pilote also highlighted a new warming station launched this winter.
“Chez Doris put in place what we call the warming station,” she said. “Warming station is 30 spaces that we had in our day center… during four months will be a shelter 24 hours, seven days a week.”
She said special activities, meals and moments of care are planned to make the shelter feel less isolating during the holidays.
‘They are like family to me’
For participants, the event carried deep personal meaning. Geraldine, who has been connected to Chez Doris for eight years, said the organization supported her when she was new to Canada.
“They are like family to me and they are so helpful,” she said. “There was a time when I was new in Canada. They actually were giving me my children’s winter jacket, things like that.”
She said the Christmas celebration brings joy to families who may otherwise go without.
“Every Christmas we are sure of gifts for the kids,” Geraldine said. “And that means a lot to not just me, but all the kids, I believe.”
Her seven-year-old son, Oyoyo, summed up the excitement simply.
“To get my presents and to enjoy our time here,” he said when asked about his favourite part of the day, adding later, “I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone. Thank you so much.”
Volunteers giving back through joy
Volunteers also played a key role in creating the festive atmosphere. Ken Ingram, who has volunteered with Chez Doris for about four years, said giving back during the holidays is especially meaningful. He dressed up as Santa Claus for Saturday’s event.
“I volunteer. I’m not paid. I come here, I help out. I’m here to make a difference and if I can bring some joy to people that are less fortunate, then that really makes me happy, especially at this time of year,” he explained.
For Ingram, the reward is immediate.
“It’s the smiles,” he said. “I always tell people I work for hugs and kisses and smiles. And that’s what you gotta do. We gotta sort of find ways to show the love.”
Community generosity makes it possible
The holiday celebrations relied heavily on community support. This year, Chez Doris received nearly 300 gift boxes from The Shoebox Project, $2,500 from the Gazette Foundation, 400 boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, 400 new pyjamas from La Vie en Rose and non-perishable food donations from Moisson Montréal. Meals were prepared in part by Mission Bon Accueil.
Pilote said the message she hopes families take home is simple.
“I hope that they will feel love and care,” she said. “I hope that they will feel that really people around them… care really about them.”
She also encouraged the public to spread the word about the organization’s services.
“If you have the chance, talk about us to the women that they can need us,” Pilote said. “We are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
