Man gives $10K worth of gifts to kids in Quebec youth protection system

Counting down to Christmas, Michael Maltais is wrapping $10,000 worth of presents to give away to children in youth protection.

They're presents he bought with his own money to make sure kids in group homes get what they really want for Christmas.

"We get exactly what they ask for because we want to make sure that it's personalized. We want to make sure that they know that people care about what they want," Matlais told CTV News.

He received letters from youth in the system that can sometimes be heartbreaking.

"Last year, we had a letter from a kid who said they were living in a group home. It was going well. The kid really liked her foster parents, and then she was diagnosed with cancer," he explained.

Aside from wanting to help bring a little cheer, there's a personal connection, too.

"I adopted my daughter from social services, from youth protection when she was nine months and she's now 15," he said.

In their home, the holidays are very important and they want to share that feeling. So, for the past six years, with the help of family and friends, Michael and his husband, also named Michael, and their daughter, Marissa, go all out to give back, spending $100 per gift, per child.

"They go out and purchase all the gifts and it becomes a family and social event," said Assunta Gallo, the provincial director of youth protection services in Quebec.

That social event is Dec. 22 at Europea Restaurant, hosted by Chef Jerome Ferrer.

"He volunteers his time. He volunteers his team. He opens his restaurant," Gallo said.

Kids aged seven to 17 from group homes from across Montreal will get treated to a specialized menu and a personalized gift.

"It's an amazing time. Kids have great food," Maltais said. "They have fun, and we're happy to offer them their wishes for Christmas."