How one family's Christmas tree business has helped Toronto’s homeless for decades

Holiday traditions are front and centre for many people at this time of year. But one Uxbridge family's Christmas tradition goes above and beyond the standard Christmas carols or holiday party.

Starting in the early 1990s, Sonny Flanagan began opening up Christmas tree lots in Toronto, and soon after, he earmarked a portion of every sale to Out of the Cold, a charity that helps feed and shelter the homeless during the winter months.

Daughter Bobbi Johnston-Flanagan, who along with sister Corey now operates part of the tree business, told CBC Toronto this week that helping those who are less fortunate has always been part of the Flanagan family tradition.

"It's really gratifying giving back to the community this way," Bobbi told CBC Toronto this week. "It's always been part of our lives; it makes you feel good."

She says so far this season, Sonny's Christmas Trees has raised almost $78,000. Overall, she figures the family has raised more than $820,000 for Out of the Cold since the family tree business began its charitable donations about 30 years ago.

Starting with one lot in the Annex neighbourhood near Bloor Street W. and Brunswick Avenue, the family soon spread its business to three other locations across the city. They now operate tree lots during the Christmas season outside Stock T.C., in the Yonge-Eglinton area, at Eastminster United Church near Chester subway station, and in the No Frills parking lot on St. Clair Ave. W. near Oakwood Avenue.

Bobbi says her trees range in price from about $30 for a metre-tall version up to about $80, and once the proceeds are totalled, Out of the Cold will get 20 per cent.

"(Volunteering) has always been part of our lives," she said. "It's actually a really fun job. You can't be down when you're coming to work with Christmas trees."

On the day that CBC Toronto visited the family's Annex location, Sharna Cohen, Out of the Cold's program director, also dropped by.

She said the family's help over the years has been invaluable.

"They contribute almost a third of our budget," she said. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"

Cohen said Out of the Cold — which offers meals and snacks, shelter beds, social events like bingo, as well as health and job search assistance for the homeless at over a dozen locations — receives no government funding.

All the agency's operating costs have to be covered by individuals, institutions or corporations. The Flanagan family, which also volunteers preparing meals for Out of The Cold's visitors occasionally, is the charity's single biggest donor, Cohen said.

"The need is huge, with skyrocketing rents and the inflationary effects on food. People who are low income, or unhoused are really, really struggling to get by," she said.