Just like they would on Christmas Day, hundreds of students at St. Willibrord Elementary in Châteauguay dressed up in their pyjamas.
The school gym was decked out in Christmas gear and to the tune of Christmas classics, the kids were treated to a hearty breakfast.
It took 720 eggs, four cases of bacon, a freezer full of bagels and a truckload of love – all part of Generations Foundation‘s Adrian and Natalie Bercovici’s recipe for joy.
“It’s not often that you see 370 kids all with a smile from 9 a.m. and the smile is still going on,” Adrian Bercovici.
“I wish the rest of the world would look in here and we can solve all the problems that are out there.”
The Bercovicis have been at the helm of Generations Foundation for the last 17 years, making sure kids across the city start their day with a full tummy.
The organization feeds breakfast to about 8,000 every morning.
During the holiday season, it collects about 5,000 new toys and distributes them around the city.
READ MORE: Generations Foundation 2016 Holiday Toy Drive
St. Willibrord Elementary has about 70 kids who participate in Generations Foundation’s breakfast program on a regular basis.
“Makes a huge difference, when you’re worried about not having had breakfast, you know, you can’t learn,” Principal Caroline Beaulieu said.
“Once they have their belly full, they can concentrate on their jobs of learning.”
WATCH BELOW: Christina Capobianco join Laura Casella to talk about her upcoming live show at the Generations Foundation fundraiser. (Note: The show has been postponed due to flooding at Centre Pierre Robillard.)
The kids got a big surprise when, with a flourish of Christmas magic, Santa Claus emerged to distribute hundreds of gifts.
“It’s pretty,” exclaimed five-year-old Peyton as she held her new Holiday Barbie doll close to her chest.
“I’ve been dreaming of this,” said Cayleigh, clutching her Monopoly board game.
“I will play with my family as soon as I get home.”