As the snow began falling this week, Robin’s three children squealed with excitement and yearned to go outside to play, but the single mother had to disappoint them because she could not afford boots for the children to wear this year.
“I told them they had to wait until I could get them some boots. Right now it’s winter time and I’m struggling to buy them clothes and shoes. They don’t have any winter boots,” said Robin, adding, however, she did get the children winter coats through a coat giveaway program sponsored by a local nonprofit community organization.
Robin, 25, had been living in an apartment with her parents but recently moved to a rental home.
“So our bills went up and we have to pay more utilities,” said Robin, who tries to get by on the salary she earns working at a local restaurant as well as food stamp assistance. “It doesn’t often get us quite to the end of the month.”
Robin’s children, two girls and a boy, who range in age from 2 to 8, are excited about Christmas and hope to have gifts from Santa under the Christmas tree. But Robin said her fixed income will prevent getting the children all the things that they desire.
“It makes me feel sad. When I was living with my parents I didn’t have bills and they would have the majority of things they wanted under the tree. But now that we moved out I gave them the option – pick one thing that they want, one thing that they need and one thing that they can read,” Robin said. “I gave them the option of getting three gifts this year.
“Reading is important and they stress reading in school a lot. I hope I can give them some books.”
Robin said she feels sadness at the reality she can’t fulfill all the Christmas wishes of her children but she doesn’t share her financial difficulties with them.
“I don’t really like to put stress on them like that. But I’m afraid they’ll realize it when they don’t see much under the tree this year,” said Robin, her voice trailing with sadness. “I’m afraid I’ll hear, ‘Well, where’s this that I asked for, Mommy?’ It will hurt to see their disappointment.”
When she learned her family was a recipient of The Mercury’s Operation Holiday program this year, Robin was overwhelmed.
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it,” Robin said.
Robin shared her story with The Mercury to inspire those who can to give to the children of our community at this most appropriate time, the holidays.
Now in its 27th year, Operation Holiday has provided a brighter holiday season to thousands of families with children. Last year, more than $50,000 in donations allowed the program to provide food and gifts for 144 families with 447 children in need.
The program was created and exists for children. The mission of Operation Holiday is to ensure that children of the Pottstown area have food to eat and gifts to open, no matter how poor or difficult their family situation may be.
There is no overhead with Operation Holiday, and all funds stay in the Pottstown area. Families are referred by more than 20 local agencies and churches.
Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of The Mercury.
Food, which includes the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry, is ordered, bought, packed and distributed by Mercury employees and Pottstown High School student government volunteers.
Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies.
Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency in order to protect the integrity of the program.
Operation Holiday is funded solely by readers’ contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.
Contributions may be mailed or brought to the offices of The Mercury, Attn: Operation Holiday, 24 N. Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19464. Make checks payable to Operation Holiday.
Editor’s Note: The names of the people in this story have been changed to protect the identities of the families.
