Holiday Miracle Comes To The Hill

Claribel Espino struggled to hold back tears when Christmas came early Sunday to her family’s door on Plymouth Street.

“These gifts are helping out a lot. Times are tough because of the pandemic,” she said. ​“People aren’t working, the kids are home all of the time, and it’s been stressful.”

Espino’s family (pictured) was one of 95 visited by neighbors who came up with a pandemic-safe alternative to an annual outdoor Hill Christmas party: Going door to door to deliver to presents.

Espino’s son, Angel, 13, said that this cheered him up after being stuck at home everyday with school being closed for Covid-19. Nephew Aiden Goodwin, 3, held up his toy while smiling from ear to ear.

Yale New Haven Hospital’s Staff Morale Committee and nurses from the women’s services department joined the Hill South Community Management Team to deliver the gift bags. Midwife Pam Delerme (pictured above), a Hill resident, said that this is technically the team’s fifth year of distributing donations but this time straight to the family’s doors instead of at an event.

“Typically, there’s a tree lighting in this community in the ​‘Kimberly triangle’; where we’ll give out gifts for the kids but it was canceled because of Covid-19,” Delerme said. ​“That’s when I decided to present the idea of collaborating with Yale and the Hill Committee to carry out the tradition.”

Gift recipients ranged from newborns to 17-year olds. Each child received a mask, hat and gloves, toys, books, handicrafts and a $10 Walmart gift card. Every family was also given a bag of toiletries, hand sanitizer, and a $10 fast food gift card.

“Our initial request to families was 1 to 13 years old, but since this year there was a greater need for assistance people asked for gifts for their babies and older children,” Delerme said. ​“The Hill community team is committed to use their funding for the holiday season to provide gifts for families.”

“We know that a lot of kids are home this year doing school from home and don’t have as many opportunities to do holiday celebrations,” said labor nurse Taylor Balisciano said. ​“This event feels good for everybody because we get to see some of the same people that we’ve taken care of before in the hospital out in the community.”

“I like to think about how it’s some of the babies that we’ve maybe delivered years ago that are growing up right outside of the hospital,” said fellow labor nurse Lauren Mazzariello.

RN Maddalena Perrone has been a part of staff morale’s team for the past two years. She said this year stood out.

“A lot of people in general just can’t get out and have accessibility to what they normally would,” Perrone said. ​“I would say that’s what makes this year that much more important.”

Hill Alders Kampton Singh and Carmen Rodriguez served as volunteers to transport presents with the other ​“elves” directly to every family’s front doors.

“The hardships are because of the pandemic but it’s also that we are a low income neighborhood,” Singh said. ​“This gives a sense of hope and community, and letting people know that they’re still cared for.

“I’ve spoken to families who are receiving gifts and they’re totally excited,” Rodriguez said. ​“Spreading joy this year is so important. It’s a team effort. Giving each other a hand is what the message should be for 2020 and moving forward.”

The Landry family (pictured) on Wilson Street made sure to wear their masks when receiving gifts from Delerme. Xavier, 8, and Lelani, 5, said they were excited to open their gifts.

“I’m not waiting until Christmas,” Xavier said. ​“I’m opening it right now!”

Natalie Diaz, a single mother of two children and grandmother of two babies on Morris Street, said that the pandemic has made for a rough year for her family. Without work, she said, her family has barely gotten by. The presents were a blessing.

“A friend referred us because she knew what we were going through,” Diaz said. ​“My daughter still believes in Santa, and I just didn’t want her to lose that this year. My children are happy with a bag of cheese doodles so they’re going to love whatever.”

Diaz took a moment to decide if she would give her children the gifts for Christmas or as a surprise for when they arrived home later that night.

“Actually, I will have them open the presents up today,” Diaz decided. ​“I’ll tell them that guardian angels dropped off some presents for them.”

Maria Gutierrez, a single mother of four children, said that the donated gifts will be the only gifts her children receive on Christmas.

Diaz said she has been caught up in the middle of a divorce from her ex-husband because of his drug abuse, which left her no choice but to rely on self-employment and food and clothing giveaways to support her family.

“Our family has had a hard time for the past six years. Right now I need to save what money we do have for the rent and bills,” Diaz said. ​“Sometimes kids grow up with the idea that they need expensive gifts under the tree to be happy. I’ve talked to my children and told them that it’s most important that we have a roof over our head and a plate of food. They understand our situation.”