The MUHC Foundation and MUHC’s social services brought joy to families in need

This holiday season, the MUHC Foundation spread cheer and hope to families in need through its Holiday Basket initiative. Among the recipients was Montrealer Alfred McLean, whose life was transformed by the care he received at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).

McLean, who suffered a heart attack in 2010, underwent triple bypass surgery at the MUHC and later received a left ventricular assist device—a mechanical pump that helps the heart's main pumping chamber push blood to the body when it can't do so effectively on its own.

Now, for the second year in a row, he’s received a holiday basket filled with personalized gifts, prepared by the MUHC Foundation staff—an important reminder that small gestures, like showing people they’re not alone during the holidays, help make up the full spectrum of care.

For McLean, who celebrated his first Christmas in years outside of the hospital, the impact was profound. “Without them, I wouldn’t have a Christmas,” he shared.

This year’s initiative helped 27 families referred through social services at the Lachine and MUHC hospitals. The baskets, filled with food, gift cards, clothing, and more, were made possible by the generosity of the MUHC Foundation staff, who raised $4,000 and collected 60 giant bags of clothing for distribution.

“This is our moment to be generous,” said Marie-Hélène Laramée, President & CEO of the MUHC Foundation. “Everything in the baskets was purchased and provided by our employees. It’s our way of giving back to those in need.”

The initiative was also deeply appreciated by the social workers who witnessed firsthand the joy it brought to the recipients. “Initiatives like this through the MUHC Foundation are incredibly important,” said Toni Lemieux, Social Worker at the MUHC. “Without it, we wouldn’t have the means to help families and patients in this way.”

Dr. Renzo Cecere, a cardiac surgeon at the MUHC, emphasized the importance of holistic care for patients like McLean: “It’s wonderful to see the MUHC Foundation helping patients in this way—it’s all part of a whole-person approach to care that makes a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.”

At its heart, the MUHC Foundation Holiday Basket initiative is about more than just delivering gifts—it spreads joy and comfort to those in need, reminding us that the holidays are about giving back to our community.