It’s no secret that the pandemic has exposed the many inequities that exist in our society. Homelessness. Unemployment. Food insecurity. Loneliness and mental-health problems. The pandemic has spared no one.
While many families are planning to celebrate this Christmas with family, friends, food and plenty of gifts, there are many in our own communities who are still facing unbearable hardships as they try to figure out how to give their children a happy holiday, put food on the table and pay their bills.
Now, more than ever before, your generosity is needed to help make Christmas dreams for these families a reality.
A mother of four “beautiful” boys wrote to Item Santa asking for help. She said she was the breadwinner in her family, but was recently laid off from a job after 21 years of continuous service, working with the elderly in a local nursing home, a job she loved. She said she was fortunate to be able to “give my time to the community” all these years helping the people who needed it most.
“Looking for a job in my profession has been extremely difficult where I can’t make nearly what I was making,” she wrote to Item Santa. “The pandemic made it worse. My financial hardship has been extremely hard.”
In spite of the adversity her family continues to face, the mother hasn’t lost her faith and belief that there is good in the world and that her request will be granted.
“I know that Santa will bring smiles to my family on Christmas day,” she wrote.
Now in its 55th year, the Item Santa fund helps to make Christmas brighter for the needy. To donate, clip the coupon in The Item and mail it, along with your check, to The Item Salvation Army Santa, 85 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 01901.
There is also a way to donate online through the Salvation Army at itemsanta.org.
All donations are listed in Item print editions through the month of December and into 2022, along with a brief message from each donor, if desired.
NOTE: The application period for aid from Item Santa has closed and The Item does not process applicants. All questions about the program and distribution of gifts should be directed to the Salvation Army at 781-598-0673.
