'It’s a surprise': Shoebox Project gives women impacted by homelessness a Christmas gift

For many of the women attending My Sister’s Place (MSP) in London, Ont. the holidays are a difficult time.

“I'm here alone in London. I have no family here,” says Serena Millward, whose family is in B.C.

“It's a bit of a hard time because it’s a time to be with family, so it can be a little emotional.”

Most of these women living on the street, or in shelters don’t receive anything for Christmas.

That’s where the Shoebox Project comes in.

For the past 15 years, they’ve supported women with a personally crafted gift, essentials and/or everyday items wrapped in a shoebox.

Emily Brewer, left, of the Shoebox Project watches Serena Millward open a gift at My Sister’s Place in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)

“We’ve already reached our target right in time for Christmas,” says Emily Brewer, the London chapter coordinator of the Shoebox Project.

“We have made about 1,200 shoe boxes, supporting around 25 agencies in London and surrounding area.”

Brewer was at MSP to hand deliver the boxes to women, after the organization held it’s Christmas dinner.

“Being able to be here and see them open this gift, it's really a full circle moment,” says Brewer.

“It just shows us that all of the work that the community put in is going to a great cause, and it's making a huge impact.”

That impact is felt by women like Terry O’Loughlin.

“I can use the shampoo, I can use a hand cream and I can use nail polish,” says O’Loughlin who is currently living in a shelter.

“You can tell the girls like it because you're not expecting it. They don't tell you when it's coming, and you're not expecting it at all.”

The boxes the women opened contained items like bodywash, a hairbrush, soaps, games, as well as winter items like hats, gloves and scarves.

The contents of a shoebox gift from the Shoebox Project in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)

“These women have a lot of struggles, and we just want to make their holiday season,” says Brewer.

“It can be very isolating, but we want to make a small part of it better for them, and just let them know that there's people out there that that care about them and are thinking of them during this time.”

Going through a difficult time after losing her ex this year, O’Loughlin was appreciative of the gift for her, and her “sisters.”

“it's just like a surprise for us all,” says O’Loughlin.

This year’s Shoebox drive has come to an end, but the need continues to grow each year.

These are some of the agencies the project supported in 2024.

• Anova/Women's Community House
• Atlohsa Family Healing Services - Zhaawanong Shelter
• CMHA Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services
• Domestic Abuse Services Oxford (DASO)
• Fresh Start Support Services
• Huron Women's Shelter
• Ingamo Homes
• London Abused Women's Centre
• Mission Services of London (Rotholme Family Shelter)
• My Sister's Place
• N'Amerind Friendship Centre
• Safe Space London
• St. Leonard's Community Services
• St. Thomas Elgin - Second Stage Housing
• Street Level Women at Risk
• The Salvation Army (Centre of Hope)
• The Salvation Army (Cornerstone Dignity)
• Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness
• Violence Against Women Services (Elgin County)
• Youth Opportunities Unlimited