'Heartwarming': Windsor-Essex families receive help filling underneath the tree

Project Christmas gives families a hand up Space under the Christmas tree became far more limited for several Windsor-Essex families.

Space under the Christmas tree became far more limited for several Windsor-Essex families who received a visit from volunteers at Project Christmas.

The local cause delivered hundreds of gifts to 35 families in the region, who were previously nominated by the community.

Chelsea and Corey Jacquot’s home in Emeryville was the first stop for volunteers. Chelsea said a call to notify them they had been selected was ‘heartwarming’ ahead of a costly time of year.

“We both had a big relief because Christmas is something we always dread and struggle with,” Chelsea said. “I just felt like everything was taken care of for us.”

The couple have three daughters: a thirteen-year-old, a seven-year-old and a five-year-old. Chelsea said they struggle financially, which makes the holidays difficult.

“Times are tough in our economy. We rely on a food bank every two weeks that we use, but we still get by, and we still work as a family,” she said.

However, the stress faded as complete strangers walked into her home on Saturday morning, each carrying gifts.

Wrapped presents overtook the Jacquot’s table, and volunteers were forced to find room on the floor.

“I’m speechless I was not expecting this much presents. It’s truly amazing,” Chelsea said. “They're going to be super excited. They always look forward to Christmas, and now that it's taken care of it's amazing.”

Before they hit the road, about fifteen Project Christmas volunteers started their morning at the Boozy Barbell, where they prepared for a long day.

Christina Delmedico, the founder of Project Christmas said her team was preparing to deliver about 800 gifts.

Last week, volunteers and the donors who helped sponsor this year’s families wrapped each gift.

“This will be morning to night. We go way into when the sky falls, and sometimes it goes into the second day,” Delmedico said.

Rather than Santa’s sleigh, the team loaded gifts into a truck and a Sprinter van.

Presents are specifically picked for each family's needs and they even include gifts for parents.

While the demand has grown each year, Delmedico said their goal to help the community remains the same as it was when she sponsored one family years ago.

“It's all about community. It's the community that donates. It's the community that volunteers. It's the community that wraps the gifts, and now it's the community that's receiving the gifts,” Delmedico said.

Delivery day is often ‘emotional’ for both families and volunteers, she said. The drop-offs are a ‘happy ending’ to a busy process.

“It's knowing that we are going to make a difference for these families,” she noted.

With the deliveries on Saturday, Delmedico said they will have supported 180 families since Project Christmas’ inception.

“Everybody grabs a couple gifts, we bring them to the door, there's a lot of tears.”

“Then we have a very big, shared hug, and I have to say, even though these people are strangers to me, they are the warmest hugs that I probably have ever felt.”

Delmedico and Jacquot shared that hug on Saturday before the Project Christmas team packed up and made their way to the next home in need.