Grand opening is planned for January 2 at the new location
DUNNVILLE—With the eviction matter settled out of court, Julia’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Charity is now facing a double race against the calendar – delivering its usual holiday programs while packing up the entire operation to move.
As previously reported, the charity was locked out of its Dunnville facility on November 19, 2025 as the landlord claimed a failure of payment. An initial hearing on November 27 saw the judge grant the charity full access to the facility at least until the matter could be heard on December 4.
An agreement was reached the night before the parties were due back in court. The settlement is confidential, but the charity’s lawyer, Arpit Malhotra, said all outstanding matters between the parties were settled “due to unavailability of proper accounting by the landlord.”
Malhotra says the decision ultimately allows Julia Marchese and her volunteers the breathing room they urgently needed.
“The landlord wanted them to be out immediately, even before Christmas, which would jeopardize the charity home’s entire year’s planning for Christmas, which they are known for in the community,” Malhotra said. “We were able to reach that resolution that, after the new year, they will be leaving the premises as they’ve found a new place.”
The landlord did not respond to requests for comment.
For Marchese, the relief of having a confirmed path forward is mixed with the pressure of moving. She said the new location at 426 Main Street East, which has a Quonset hut, will give the charity space to grow.
“Overly thankful,” she said. “There’s a lot more room for us there, and there’s more room for expansion. I got so much plans for there. It’s going to be amazing, especially for the relief of poverty.”
On potential future expansions in the new space, Marchese shared hopes for a warming station, noting that the charity already works to ensure no one is left outdoors during cold weather.
She said the charity has already invested heavily to prepare the building.
“We had to like clean it right up, and we had new bathrooms in there, and we had to paint the floor and we had to paint the ceilings. The money is really, really tight for us.”
Despite the upheaval, Marchese stressed that all Christmas programs will continue as scheduled. The charity’s December 20 event at the Optimist Hall remains open for registration, with plans to welcome about 120 people.
“We’re serving like a nice dinner, like pizza and snacks,” she said. “We’re giving gifts away there as well.”
Christmas Day support is also continuing. Selkirk’s annual lunch will again share some of its leftovers with the charity, and Marchese plans to distribute turkey dinners on December 25.
Anyone in need can contact the charity directly through its store number at 905-701-4040.
She expressed deep gratitude to her children and the volunteers who supported her through the lockout, which she called “the most difficult time that we’ve experienced as I was totally broken and fearful of not being able to provide the community with food (and) necessities”.
She also thanked contributors to the recent fundraiser, which raised about $800, those who helped the charity distribute food during the lockout, Open Arms Mission, the Optimist Club, the Lions Club, Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley, and Councillor Debera McKeen for their assistance.
The charity is preparing for a January 2, 2026 grand opening at its new location.
In the meantime, they are accepting monetary donations and volunteer help for the transition. Until the charity officially reopens in January, Marchese said the thrift store will operate by donation.
Marchese is looking forward with optimism for the charity’s future.
“I am on top of the world as I am so grateful and thankful for our new location, as this will be a beginning of a better place with many new adventures that will be happening in order to fulfill our mission of relief of poverty.”
