Disabled mom does her best for two kids
She always pays the rent no matter how much of a struggle it is to come up with the money. For a disabled single mom with two teenagers, it is never easy.
There are always sacrifices that have to be made as she stretches her Social Security disability check to cover their basic living expenses.
Her diligence about making the rent payment didn't save her from losing their home. Through no fault of her own, the family was forced to move after the owner of the house they rented lost it to foreclosure.
"I had no money for a deposit, and could not find a place to live," she told Press Christmas for All.
With a lot of help from local assistance programs, she is grateful she was able to get her family into an apartment.
But the rent is higher, and her bills have piled up.
"I have no means for Christmas," she said. "I'm very thankful for Christmas for All. Now we can have a little Christmas this year."
With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for folks like this - people left jobless, homeless or who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.
Last year our generous readers' donations allowed us to assist thousands of families in need, and this year we expect to be asked for help from far more.
Each day until Christmas, we will share with you the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.
Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.
Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 25th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and their partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards to Shopko and to Super 1 Food Stores. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products.
To donate, please send a check to:
Press Christmas for All
201 Second St.
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
You can also call (208) 664-8176 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and donate by credit card.
Recent donors include:
Mike & Paula Achenbach; Leroy Abel; Jeffrey & Gwynneth Andrus; Anonymous; Avon Representatives, Shari Frei, Bonnie Douglas, Zandra Parks, Inez Edwards, Sara Thweatt, Ernest Christman, D. Aguirre; Dick & Noma Kay Barclay; Lisa Bassett; Nancy Bell "In memory of Robert Bell"; Bighorn Plumbing; Mr. & Mrs. Joe Bloomsburg; Ronald & Eileen Briggs; K. Catalano; Coeur d'Alene Surgery Center Staff "In memory of Elsie Jones, beloved mother of Peter C. Jones, MD"; Rodney & Debra Colwell; Cooper's Lawn Maintenance, LLC; Paul & Bonnie D'Alessandro; Melissa Demotte; Joe & Linda Fahner; Randy & Polly Fiscus; Richard & Sandra Fletcher; Anonymous; Diana French; Vicki Garvin; William Goetz; Kim & Sheryl Golden; Kelly & Sherry Grof; Robert & Mary Ann Guenther; Anonymous; Eric & Michelle Haakenson; Paul & Audrey Hakala; Thomas Halliwell & Gini Butters; Gordon & Beverly Hammond USN (RET); Doug & Becky Harro; Barbara Holcombe "In memory of my mother Pauline E. Holcombe, who grew up without 'enough'"; Dale Holst; Carole Rose Horst; Mary & Randy Indgersoll; Scott & Ivy Irons; Bruce & Debra Izatt; Betty Jacobs; Michael & Donell Jameson; Frank & Leta Jessick; William & Patricia Kersting; Ketih & Jackie Knight; Lawrence & Beverly Knudsen; Fritz & Lucie Maier; Michael & Connie Maslowski; David & Jan Moseley; Linda Nelson; Meribeth Nissen; Anonymous; The North Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association, Shannon & Gail Brimhall "In support of Jordan Brimhall", Norman & Virginia Yost, Linda Sorensen; Carmen Olson; Mike & Lisa Palaniuk; Susan & Marvin Pridemore; Dave & Janie Riley; Anonymous; Mary Ann Roe "In memory of my husband Homer Roe"; Terry & Sue Robinson; Roger & Pam Rowland; D. Lorrane Scott "In memory of my grandson Neil Howard & gift from granddaughter Seirra Howard from Grandma"; Thomas & Krist Sharbono; Muriel & William Stamps; Beverly & James Stickney; Harold & Lorraine Tarpley; Jan & Troy Tymesen; Al & Teresa Underwood; Dennis & Jacqueline Wheeler; Nancy White; Theresa & Wesley Woods, Century Publishing Co., Inc.