You can help put a smile on a homeless child this season

Although the slumping economy may cause us to think of the holidays as a tough time, they can be even harder for families who are homeless.While many middle-class parents stress out over waking up on Black Friday, ordering gifts online, or browsing for bargains at the mall, many homeless families are hoping for just one gift to brighten their children’s holiday.You can imagine the difficult circumstances homeless families live in throughout the year. One letter-writer describes crowded living conditions at shelters in Lynn and Danvers, and the difficulty of obtaining vouchers for Section 8 housing.She writes that “more homeless people keep going in the shelters,” and adds that “it keeps building up.”The letter-writer has four children: three sons, ages 12, 6 and two and a half; and one daughter, age 11. They also have four cats they were kind enough to adopt off the street.”My daughter hates to see homeless cats on the (street),” she writes, “and we will feed them food and water.”She adds that her daughter wants to become a veterinarian, her oldest son wants to finish school all the way up to college and her 6-year-old son wants to be a police officer.”I gave and kept (giving),” she said, “and along the way kept suffering more and more.” Yet she adds, “I love my 4 children ? and they deserve a really special Christmas.”There are many families in Lynn and the North Shore who are in the same predicament ? who must rely on the kindness of charitable donations from the community, whether at soup kitchens or through clothing and toy drives.In fact, the letter-writer says, “I feel sorry for the homeless,” and adds, “I’ll give them what I have.”The weather may be cold this time of year, but that doesn’t mean that life has to be cold for the homeless in Lynn and on the North Shore. Even though the economy is bad all around, it would behoove us to remember – and help – those who are much less fortunate than ourselves this holiday season. With a donation to the Item Santa, you can help bring a smile to a needy child’s face on Christmas Day.Item Santa is in its 45th year of brightening the lives of local children. To make a donation, clip the coupon on Page A6 in today’s Daily 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.