Grandmother looking for a little Christmas grace
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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Raising a grandchild and struggling with medical bills, this grandmother is hoping for grace this Christmas.
She and her husband, a disabled veteran, are caring for their 4-year-old grandson. The couple’s adult daughter has struggled with addiction, and though she’s sober now, she’s still working to put her life together. In the meantime, the grandparents have stepped up.
“It’s been stressful, but also rewarding,” the grandma said. “It’s keeping us young.”
The grandmother is also suffering from pain and limited mobility. Recent back surgery gave her little relief. Due to carpal tunnel syndrome, she struggles to grip and hold objects, which makes it hard to work or even cook for her family.
“I’m not able to do as much as I would like to,” she said.
Money is tight, especially while paying off medical bills. But she hopes to give her grandson a special Christmas, including traditions from her own childhood: a small present to open on Christmas Eve and a stocking for Christmas morning.
She’ll need her community’s support to make it happen.
“Everybody needs grace,” she said. “Everybody needs help. I would love for people to see that when they give other people grace and love, it makes a big impact. It means there’s still hope in the world.”
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:
Walt and Jodie Kroon; Anastazia Volkenand; David and Elsie Casteel; Shermane Frei; David and Peggy Whiteman; Dorothea Channell; Jim and Shirley Miller; Bill and Barbara Dean; Norma Wilson.
OVER $500 CLUB:
Corby Locke