MUHC Foundation initiative highlights growing patient needs beyond medical care
Posted December 22, 2025 10:11 am.
Last Updated December 23, 2025 7:55 am.
Behind the hospital walls at the McGill University Health Centre, some patients are facing challenges that go far beyond medical treatment.
Staff say patients undergoing chemotherapy or recovering from major surgeries are increasingly struggling to afford everyday essentials such as food, medication and warm winter clothing — needs that can directly affect their recovery.
“We see patients and families on a daily basis who are in need,” said Aviva Tenenbaum, the manager of social services at the MUHC’s adult sites. “I would say that over the past year, we’ve seen an increased need, with inflation and the cost of food and basic necessities rising.
“Our goal is to get them back on their feet as they’re getting ready to leave the hospital. We just want to ensure that they’re going home to a fridge filled with food and the medication that they need to fully recover from their illness.
“These donations make all the difference.”
The MUHC Foundation and MUHC Social Services held a small distribution of donated items Monday morning at the Glen site. Community members, hospital staff and partner organizations gathered to pass along much-needed supplies to social services teams who work directly with patients.
“A lot of people have actually brought some food and clothing here, which we put in boxes, gifts also that we’ve put together in packages for the patients,” explained Marie-Hélène Laramée, the president and CEO of the MUHC Foundation. “But you can also go on MUHCfoundation.com and make a donation. And Feed Montreal will actually match the donation up to $50,000 this holiday season.
“This program is helping hundreds of families who are very vulnerable and in need, not only through the holiday season, but through the entire year.
“The staff here at the hospital is trained to detect these situations and they’re reported back to social services so that we can go towards the family so that it’s not something that affects the dignity of the patients, but quite the opposite. We are showing up and being proactive to help them through this hard time.”
Social workers say the need is growing, particularly as the cost of living rises, and many patients are hesitant to ask for help. Donations from the community help ensure patients can focus on healing, not on how they will afford their next meal or prescription.
Hospital staff say the initiative is a reminder that recovery often depends on support outside the hospital bed.
“You can imagine what it’s like to be a father of a family and going home or not going home for the holidays and imagining your family without gifts or without food through this season,” Laramée said. “This is really, really a way that we can help them really profoundly and help their healing.”
“We’re just happy to be able to help the patients and their loved ones through the help of the foundation,” added Tenenbaum.
