Lynn single mother makes appeal to Item Santa for Christmas gifts for her two sons

Item Staff ReportLYNN – Strapped by medical problems, a disabled single mother from Lynn worries that Christmas will spell disappointment for her two sons, ages 5 and 12.After all, her income is limited, toy prices are highly inflated, and her ability to provide the items on their wish lists is not very likely. So she, like many other single mothers in the city, is reaching out to Item Santa for a bit of assistance.She writes, “I love my children with all of my heart. And I try to do the best I can for them. Sometimes it’s hard to make ends meet on a fixed income. But I do the best that I can to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and clothes on their backs. Sometimes it’s hard to give them everything they need or want.”On most days of the year, those accomplishments are enough – love and affection, a dry bed, a hot meal, and suitable clothing for New England’s fickle and ever-changing weather. Unfortunately, the holiday season has a way of discounting those good deeds.The reason for her letter: “Christmas is coming.”For many families, the mere thought of the approaching holiday doesn’t conjure feelings of joy to the world.Rather, the calendar date of Dec. 25 looms like a deadline on which their measure of success as mothers, fathers, guardians or providers gets mercilessly tested. A trip to the shopping mall becomes an exercise in frustration.The single mom: “I’d appreciate it so much if you could help me to make their Christmas as merry as possible.”The wish list from the older boy: a basketball, video games, an iPod. And from the younger one, Wrestling Man, a V-tech learning system and a toy cash register.According to mom, the older boy “wants to be a cop” and the younger “a firefighter.”These are her boys and she wants them to be happy, to have reason to smile on Christmas morning.It is precisely pleas such as this that make the Item Santa so important. After all, no child wants to wake up Christmas morning to find that Santa has skipped over his or her house.To make a donation to Item Santa, clip the coupon on Page B2 of 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.