A local clothing brand, Eleven Percent Streetwear, recently teamed up with the nonprofit Protecting the Rise and Meatings BBQ to hand out hot meals and clothing to people in need in Ottawa’s Byward Market.

The event took place on Christmas Eve from 1 to 3 p.m. near the Scotiabank on Rideau Street. The clothing brand says its goal is to support and make a positive difference in the lives of homeless people across Canada.

The company aims to provide warm, life-saving winter gear to people in need, saving them from risks like hypothermia and frostbite in this winter weather. The recent Christmas Eve event marked its third year, and the group also runs similar outreach efforts throughout the year. Eleven Percent Streetwear donates 11 percent of its profits to make and hand out warm clothing and care packages for people experiencing homelessness.

The event was managed by a small team of volunteers, and any leftover food was taken to a local shelter. The group also collected donated clothing from residents and gave it directly to people living on the street.

The team collected about 20 to 30 garbage bags full of donated clothing in 2025 and fed between 200 and 400 people at each of their events. People who want to help can donate through Eleven Percent Streetwear’s website. The company has also launched a new clothing line with Meatings BBQ, and all the money from those sales was used to make meals for people in need on Christmas Eve.

Source: Andrea Bennett, CityNews