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Mom: 'Ask for help, but never take it for granted'

| December 6, 2018 12:00 AM

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Press employee and Christmas for All volunteer Brandi Beer gratefully accepts a check for $500 from John Goedde, representing Kootenai Charities, Inc. Goedde and Kootenai Charities are longtime donors to the annual holiday fundraiser. (MIKE PATRICK/Press)

As part of the annual Press Christmas for All campaign, we share with readers the stories of some of the people applying for help. Here’s one of them.

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This single mom of two isn’t wishing for much during the holidays. All she wants is a little peace of mind.

Her son has special needs, and it’s a challenge for the mom to juggle her work schedule with his care. The children’s father lost his job and hasn’t been able to provide the child support that the family counts on to get by.

“I’m making it work, but just barely,” the mom told Press Christmas for All. “I can’t have anything extra for my kids.”

Though she’s struggling to keep a roof over her children’s heads, she doesn’t qualify for assistance. Money is so tight than any help this holiday season would go toward necessities, she said, like food and winter clothes for the kids.

The mom said she believes that programs like Press Christmas for All, which rely on the kindness of strangers, teach an amazing lesson to her children.

“I’ve used this as a teaching moment,” she said. “It’s OK if you need help. You can ask for help, but never take it for granted.”

This is the 33rd year Press Christmas for All has worked to brighten the lives of Kootenai County residents in need during the holiday season.

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.

The gift recipients are our neighbors who are struggling, including the elderly, disabled and mentally ill. Many who seek assistance from Christmas for All are working, but living near or below the poverty level. They are barely making ends meet and they do not qualify for other holiday charity programs.

Some are responsible for children, others are alone throughout the holiday season. Despair is a common factor. But through Christmas for All, they feel the compassion of a caring community during what can be a very difficult time of year for them.

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.

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 can be made by dropping off or mailing a check to: Press Christmas for All, 215 N. Second St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

To donate online, visit cdapress.com. Click on the menu on the left side of the page to find Christmas for All 2018.

To make a donation by phone using your credit card, call 208-664-8176.

RECENT DONORS:

Mary and Randy Ingersoll; Jim and Pat Brinton; MaryLou Dion; William Wood and Kris Olson-Wood; A. and S. Deerwester; Robert Avon; Richard and Marilyn Moore; Sherry Haughton; David Schreiber; Jeannine Hicks; Paul and Shirley Binfield; Bob and Judy Jones; Gary and Judy Denny; Julianne Holt.

OVER $500 CLUB:

Carol and David Landis; Fairway Floor in Memory of Art Trenkle; Kootenai Charities.