It was initially thought that last year would be the finale for the Giving Tree Project.

But that recently changed.

The Christmas gift giveaway started by Sydnee Navarro – she started the project that benefits families and children at the HOPE Family Shelter’s Raymus House some 11 years ago – will live on thanks to Elizabeth Martinez and Alisha Chandler.

They just agreed to spearhead the holiday endeavor consisting of wish-list items on the Give Tree, said Barbara Goode of HOPE Family Shelter on Monday.

The Navarros – included were Sydnee, her mother Jane, and brother Connor, who led the Giving Tree efforts in recent years – along with Martinez, Chandler, and others were on hand to deliver gifts, fulfilling the wishes of 18 families and 68 people, altogether, Goode noted.

“They got all their wishes granted,” she said.

HOPE Ministries, Inc. CEO Cecily Ballungay once again praised the efforts of Sydnee and Connor Navarro, who became involved in helping out the HOPE Shelter families and children while still students at Manteca Unified.

Both currently attend the University of the Pacific in Stockton. Sydnee is a senior, majoring in Sociology while having recently passed her LSAT necessary to attend law school.

Connor is in his second year at UOP, where he’s majoring in Media Arts & Production.

While they’re kept busy in school, Sydnee and Connor expressed that they’re planning to continue to be involved with the Giving Tree Project, helping out Martinez and Chandler come next year.

Sydnee is especially thankful to see her legacy live on.

She was 10 years old when she first contacted Ballungay about what turned out to be the Giving Tree.

Navarro said her inspiration came about a story on local homelessness that appeared in the Manteca Bulletin back in 2013.

That project later became her Community Advocacy Project with Manteca Youth Focus. Sydnee Navarro was Miss Manteca 2020.

A 2021 graduate of Manteca High, she attended UOP that fall with her brother Connor taking the lead on the project.

He graduated from MHS in 2023.

HOPE Ministries is a faith-based organization that’s dedicated to providing shelter and services to homeless and low-income families.

The Raymus House started as a nursing home in 1993, and was later donated by the Antone and Marie Raymus Foundation for the purpose of serving the homeless women and children.