Lost income sinking family just before Christmas

With four young children, it’s become more and more difficult for these parents to maintain their household without help.

The mom stays home with the kids. Child care is too expensive, she told Press Christmas for All.

Earlier this year, the father’s company stopped allowing employees to work overtime, eliminating the few extra dollars that helped the family break even each month.

“We are not on any assistance programs,” the mom said. “We have everything of value in the pawn and have had to take two loans just to get through this year, and paying the interest on these have cost us more then we realized it would.”

She said they don’t have enough money to cover December’s rent, and they can’t do anything for their 7-year-old’s birthday.

“I love my children more than anything, and their whole lives they’ve had to be understanding about getting dollar store gifts under the tree or no gifts at all,” the mom said.

This is the 32st year Press Christmas for All has worked to brighten the lives of people like this during the holiday season.

The program helps everyone in need, including struggling young families, seniors, people with disabilities and mental illnesses. Many are alone, and despair is a common factor.

Through Christmas for All, these less fortunate neighbors feel the compassion of a caring community during what can be a very difficult time of year for them.

Each year, Press readers donate generously to the program. The money collected is distributed in the form of gift cards to those who might not otherwise be able to put a holiday meal on the table or purchase a small gift for a child.

Press Christmas for All is managed by The Hagadone Corp., with assistance from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. It is a legally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run entirely by volunteers at The Hagadone Corp., the Coeur d’Alene Press and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.

Every penny raised is distributed to needy Kootenai County residents. All overhead costs are covered by The Hagadone Corp. and the volunteers at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made by dropping off or mailing a check to: Press Christmas for All, 215 Second St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Online donations can be made by visiting goo.gl/WospPG.

Recent donors:

Tom and Carol Leege; Michael and Kathleen Brown; Lawrence and Joanne Castor; William Tarnasky; Kathleen Krafft-Watson; Mrs Wendell (Twila) Little; the Yuditskys; Helen Mitchell and Holly Mitchell McNee; George Grenier; John and Susan McGinnis; Donald and Charlotte Keane.