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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 liv.