Montreal firefighters distribute 1,300 Christmas baskets to families in need
Posted December 17, 2025 10:34 am.
Last Updated December 17, 2025 4:41 pm.
Montreal firefighters are once again helping families facing rising living costs, distributing food and toy baskets across the city as part of their annual holiday campaign.
Now in its 38th year, the initiative will deliver 1,266 baskets to Montreal households, including 566 large baskets for families, 200 small baskets for two-person households and 500 baskets for single people.
“This is the bread and butter of what the men and women of the Montreal Fire Department do on a daily basis, it’s really about helping,” said Chris Ross, Lieutenant with the Montreal Fire Department and President of the Montreal Firefighters Association. “One of the the advantages of being the fire department is we help people on a daily basis.”
Each large basket, valued at $470, will be delivered to homes by off-duty or retired firefighters.
“Collecting donations in the streets of Montreal and distributing baskets and toys is a long-standing tradition for our Association,” said Ross. “Every day, our firefighters are on the ground, in direct contact with Montrealers, and they see first-hand the vulnerability that exists in our neighbourhoods. Being at the service of the population also means mobilizing to make the holiday season a little sweeter for the most vulnerable. Over the years, more than 40,000 families have benefited from it.”
The campaign is supported by firefighters, volunteers, Montreal auxiliary firefighters, the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal and several sponsors, including the Caisse Desjardins du Réseau municipal, Burrowes and Olymbec.
“It is a great pride to be able to count on firefighters who go above and beyond their work to reach out to the most vulnerable families,” said Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal. “Their social and community involvement is a reflection of the solidarity of Montreal, which is so important to my administration. I sincerely thank the Montreal Firefighters Association for this essential annual initiative, which supports those who need it most.”
Ross stated that Montreal firefighters will continue collecting donations all throughout December.
“We’re going to be filling boots on those street corners,” said Ross. “It’s really the support of Montrealers that allow us to get this done every year. We typically collect over $400,000 and lose change on those street corners. The message I like to drive home is you can be confident that if you’re giving your money to a Montreal firefighter 100% of what you put into that boot comes back to what you see going on today.”
The campaign aims to continue to help families during the holiday’s for years to come.
“We’re hoping this brings a little bit of cheer to families,” said Ross. “We’re going to help over a 1,300 families this year from over $470 of food to gifts under the tree for the kids. “We really hope it brings a little bit of joy and a little bit of comfort at a difficult time during the holiday season and it’s a way for Montreal firefighters to say happy holidays and Merry Christmas to the population that we protect on a daily basis.”
