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A cyclist from behind with a meal bag on the rack, riding a snowy Plateau street at blue hour
Causes

Santropol Roulant: Meals on Wheels, a Farm and a Bike Shop in the Plateau

2 min read

What they do

Santropol Roulant uses food to bring people together across generations. Its best-known service is meals on wheels: volunteers prep food in the morning in the kitchen on Roy Street East in the Plateau, pack hot meals in the afternoon and deliver them by bike, car, bus or on foot. Clients receive their meals plus invitations to Roulant events.

The Roulant also grows food on a farm in Senneville and in city gardens, offers frozen meals and pay-what-you-can food services, and supports Santrovélo, a participatory bike workshop where you learn to fix your own bike. In 2024 it delivered 26,152 Meals-on-Wheels meals and distributed 34,724 meals in all, counting frozen meals and soup. About 1,500 volunteers gave 27,091 hours, and the farm harvested 2,467 kg of produce, much of it eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, rhubarb and garlic.

How it started

In 1995, two waiters at Café Santropol, Christopher Godsall and Keith Fitzpatrick, saw through volunteering how much a warm meal and a friendly visit could mean, to the senior receiving it and to the young person bringing it. With funding from Youth Service Canada and help from the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal, they set up at 111 Duluth. That June, the first meal went out: 11 sandwiches.

The bike program started in the basement in 1996. In 2010 the Roulant moved into its own building at 111 Roy East, with about five times the space, and in 2012 it gained use of the farm site in Senneville. In 2025 it marked 30 years.

Why it matters this December

Winter makes errands harder, especially for older people. Icy sidewalks and early darkness can turn a trip to the grocery store into a real risk. A hot meal at the door, brought by someone who stops to say hello, covers food and company at once. In its April 2026 volunteer update, the Roulant named deliveries as its greatest volunteer need, and December is a good month to answer that.

How to help

  • Deliver meals. Routes run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons and take about three hours, alone or in pairs. Go by bike, car, foot or bus; compensation is offered to volunteers using their own car, bike or transit.
  • Cook or pack. Kitchen shifts run 9:30 to 12:30 (prep) and 13:30 to 16:30 (packing) on the same days. Bring a hat or hairnet and closed-toe shoes, and skip the nail polish.
  • Start with a welcome session. Fill in the volunteer form, then attend a welcome session of a little over an hour. Volunteers must be 16 to come alone; younger volunteers can come with an adult.
  • Donate. Gifts go through the donation page on santropolroulant.org. A 2026 winter campaign hasn’t been posted yet.

Santropol Roulant is at 111 rue Roy Est, a short walk from Saint-Laurent Boulevard and the 55 bus. Phone: 514-284-9335. December holiday hours haven’t been posted, so call before dropping in.

Official website santropolroulant.org

Checked on November 8, 2026. Details can change, so confirm on the official page before you go.

Questions people ask

How do I volunteer with Santropol Roulant?

Fill in the volunteer form on santropolroulant.org, then attend a required welcome session of a little over an hour. After that, you can book kitchen, delivery or farm shifts by phone at 514-284-9335 or in person at 111 Roy Street East. Volunteers must be 16 to come alone.

When was Santropol Roulant founded?

Santropol Roulant was founded in 1995 by Christopher Godsall and Keith Fitzpatrick, two waiters at Café Santropol. With funding from Youth Service Canada, they started a meals-on-wheels service pairing young people with seniors. The first meal they served was 11 sandwiches. The organization marked 30 years in 2025.

What is Santrovélo?

Santrovélo is a participatory community bike workshop linked to and supported by Santropol Roulant. It teaches bike mechanics so people can repair their own bikes, and it promotes active transportation and safe cycling. The bike program began in the Roulant's basement in 1996.

Sources

Images are AI illustrations, not photos of the places or people featured.

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