With electricity prices nearly doubling, inflation through the roof, and rent prices soaring, making ends meet in 2022, for far too many, remains an experience similar to sprinting on a treadmill — you have to run as fast as you can just to stay in the same place.
During the pandemic, when thousands, if not millions, of Americans had to choose between making ends meet and keeping their families safe from the spread of COVID-19, a short financial slip could easily snowball into a nightmare.
For those in the position to help this holiday season, Item Santa fund, now in its 56th year, helps families struggling through hard times, enjoy the memorable and joyful Christmas everyone deserves.
A single mother of three children wrote to the Item, saying that giving birth to her youngest child last year left her at high risk for COVID-19. Leaving work for a few months to tend to her newborn baby, she said, set her back so far financially that she’s now struggling to support her children.
“I started working back in April from home and [I’ve] been playing catch up on every check, at times, even overdrafting my account to pay for rent, get food, and basic stuff for my kids,” she wrote.
The mother of three asked for “some kind of assistance,” for her kids this Christmas.
“As a single mother of three, it’s hard. Once you fall behind, it feels impossible to get back ahead,” she wrote.
Please help The Item Santa with its goal of ensuring that every child gets a warm meal and a present under the tree on Christmas. The Item Santa, through its partnership with The Salvation Army, helps families in need of a helping hand put meals in bellies, and toys under trees so that all families can have a merry christmas.
If you wish to help this mother, who is single handedly working to support her three children, avoid having to choose between paying rent and bringing a smile to her kids’ faces Christmas morning, please clip the coupon in this issue of The Daily Item, and mail it, along with your check, to: The Item Salvation Army Santa, 85 Exchange St. Lynn, MA 01901.
All donations are listed in Item print editions through the month of December and into 2023, 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 all applicants. All questions about the program and distribution of gifts should be directed to the Salvation Army at 781-598-0673.
