PRESS CHRISTMAS FOR ALL: Small gift gives homeless woman hope
As part of the annual Press Christmas for All campaign, we share with readers the stories of those who have received help from the program. This is one of them.
Despite being homeless this Christmas, “Winona” holds onto hope for a better future.
After surviving an abusive marriage, Winona, a 48-year-old mom of three grown children, turned to alcohol to cope. She lost her job and her housing and now lives out of her car.
Winona’s position in life is precarious. It’s tough to find a place to park safely overnight when she’s frequently confronted by law enforcement and told to “move along.” She can’t afford to pay her car insurance bill, so she lives with the fear that her car will be ticketed and then impounded because she’s uninsured.
In these difficult conditions, Winona has worked hard to maintain her sobriety. She receives support from the Street Medicine team at Heritage Health, who referred her to Press Christmas for All for possible assistance.
Winona asked Christmas for All to pay for just one month of car insurance. That $125 payment, a seemingly trivial amount to many, was an insurmountable obstacle for Winona. The small gift, made possible by community donations, gave Winona some much-needed security and bought her enough time to find work.
With the help of the Street Medicine team and Christmas for All, Winona regained hope. She’s continuing to work toward stable housing.
Each year, Press readers donate generously to Press Christmas for All. Every penny raised is distributed to Kootenai County residents. Less than 1% of the funds raised go to overhead costs.
The gift recipients are our neighbors who are struggling, including the elderly, people with disabilities, veterans, the homeless and those with mental illnesses. Many who seek assistance from Christmas for All are working, but living in poverty.
Beneficiaries of Press Christmas for All keep their dignity while the community provides a hand-up to help get them back on their feet.
Press Christmas for All is managed by The Hagadone Corp., with assistance from CharityReimagined.Org. It is a legally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run entirely by volunteers.
Here are four ways to donate:
• Mail a check to Press Christmas for All, 215 N. Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.
• Call The Press and make a secure credit card donation over the phone: 208-664-8176.
• Visit cdapress.com. Click on Christmas for All and make a secure online donation.
• Drop off your check at The Press weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 215 N. Second St. in downtown Coeur d'Alene.