Families at Ottawa's Ronald McDonald House get special delivery of Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen and Marine Corps delivered toys to children at Ronald McDonald House. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

It's a tradition that brings Christmas to families in need. The U.S. Embassy hosted its 18th annual Toys for Tots campaign with a donation of gifts to the Ronald McDonald House near CHEO.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen and members of the Marines made the donation Friday.

"If you're a child undergoing medical treatment or you're part of a family and you're uprooted from your home and you're here at CHEO and staying in a home away from home, the existence of the tree, the existence of the gifts, the existence of Santa as a reminder of what a normal, regular life is and that joy, that sense of comfort, is what makes this house so special," said Cohen.

For one family from Iroquois Falls in northern Ontario, the gifts make their stay in Ottawa feel more like home. Their 18-month-old, Grace, is undergoing chemotherapy and her family will be staying at the facility for months.

"The earliest we would go back would be February, the latest we would go back is July," said Zach Neal, Grace's father. "It's all based on her treatments because she's doing chemotherapy, so depending on the success."

The gifts were placed under the tree and children picked out their favourite items.

"A lot of the children who are here and the families who are here right now will be here over Christmas," said Christine Hardy, Ronald McDonald House Charities' Ottawa CEO. "Leading up to Christmas and being far away from home and from your friends and family, it's a really special day when Santa comes with the Marines."

Ronald McDonald House is a facility where children undergoing treatment at CHEO and their families can stay. There are fourteen locations across Canada, all near children's hospitals.

"We have families from over 200 communities, including in northern Ontario, Nunavut, and across different provinces," said Hardy. "They can stay with us for weeks and in some cases, they can stay with us for months."

The moment of holiday cheer from Friday's event, one these families will cherish during hard times.

"We can't have that at home right now, and it just feels like a family Christmas experience that is very homey," said Neal.