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WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. -- Makeshift elves from the Wheat Ridge Police Department loaded up their cruiser Wednesday for a special delivery to a woman Contact7 introduced you to one week ago.
Chanel Davis escaped her abusive boyfriend and moved her four children to Colorado. She bravely shared her story with Contact7's Tom Mustin, and we heard from dozens of you looking to help her out.
As Contact7 tagged along for the surprise delivery, a blue Santa — representing law enforcement — arrived at the Davis' household bearing gifts. Pandemonium ensued.
The surprise visit by Santa and friends came after the Wheat Ridge Police Department saw our story documenting Davis' domestic abuse in Illinois.
"I was raped and he went to sleep. While he was asleep I grabbed my kids, jumped in the car and just left" she told Denve7 last week.
Wheat Ridge officers saw the story and heard that the woman couldn't afford presents for the family. So they sprang into action, organizing a Christmas visit complete with several presents for each child, and money courtesy of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Wheat Ridge Optimists club. As the kids tore through presents, Davis beamed.
"My kids are my all, my everything. My last breath in my body is my kids so to see them so excited just brings pure joy to my heart," she said. "They can wake up on Christmas Day and say, 'mom there are gifts for real.' It brings so much joy to my heart. I'm still at a loss for words. "
After paying for basic necessities, like rent and gas, she had less than a dollar in her savings account.
"Yeah, fifty-six cents. Yeah," she said.
But Santa changed that. The FOP and the Optimists donated $750 as well as several hundred dollars worth of gift cards.
"Thirty dollars a piece for the kids for Old Navy, and $50 to King Soopers," said Davis.
"How far will that go?" asked Mustin. "We can keep a car and a roof over our head, I'll tell you that," she said.
The community support has given Davis the strength to tell her story without shame.
"This gives me confirmation that it's time to speak up. It's time to come forward. It's time to say 'enough is enough.' You can't sit here in silence anymore," Davis said.
And as the family posed for pictures with Santa and his helpers, Davis said she and her family are feeling the holiday spirit. And for the first time, she's looking to the future with hope.
"I'm just blessed. Blessed. Thank you Denver7 for everything."
