Without your help, twins could face double disappointment this Christmas

LYNN – For a young child, the joy of a birthday equals the happiness felt opening gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. When both special days fall around the same time, the holiday season should have double the fun.But for Karen (not her real name), the struggle is doubled as she tries to provide her 7-year-old twin boys with life’s basic necessities. With the boys’ birthday just three days after Christmas, Karen wants to make sure her sons have reason to celebrate both important days.”It is a struggle just to pay the rent, utilities and for basic needs,” Karen wrote. “It’s even harder because their birthday is Dec. 28 and we have two special days in one week to celebrate.”The boys’ father refuses to pay child support, despite a court order mandating him to. He hasn’t been a part of their lives for years, and Karen works two jobs. The boys’ grandmother has helped watch the boys so Karen can work in the evenings, but the family can’t afford a babysitter and their grandmother is now too elderly to care for them by herself.Karen wrote that one of her sons is going through a tough emotional time because his father rarely visits or calls anymore. She described her other son as a very sociable and helpful child. Karen didn’t ask for specific gifts for either boy, but rather said they love video games and playing sports. Both boys still believe in Santa, and Karen would hate to ruin the Christmas and birthday cheer by not being able to provide her kids with presents.There is no need to let a child go without gifts on two of the most important days of the year, even during tough financial times.You can make a difference to those in need and provide holiday – and sometimes birthday – cheer that can last long past Christmas morning.To make a donation to Item Santa, clip the coupon on Page A6 in today’s Item and mail it, along with your check, to The Item Salvation Army Santa, P.O. Box 951, Lynn, MA 01903.For more information, call the Salvation Army at 781-598-0673.