Leukemia patient, behind on her rent, needs help

A63-year-old Santa Fe woman says she has been living on disability benefits since being diagnosed with leukemia and is being treated with chemotherapy.

She also has progressive multiple sclerosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, for which she takes several medications and uses a wheelchair.

With no family, she relies on a home health aide who comes to her mobile home daily to prepare meals and takes her to medical care appointments.

She has fallen behind on rent, which she expects to increase in January, as well as insurance premiums, and is asking for help from the Empty Stocking Fund to get caught up.

The Empty Stocking Fund is an annual project of the Santa Fe New Mexican. The Santa Fe Community Foundation, Los Alamos National Bank, the Salvation Army, Presbyterian Medical Services, the Life Link, Habitat for Humanity and the Housing Trust donate services to jointly administer the Empty Stocking Fund.

Throughout the holiday season, the newspaper is publishing stories featuring requests for assistance from local residents.

The information from the initial application will be verified if the applicant is selected for assistance.

To donate: Make your taxdeductible donation online at www.santafenewmexican.com/ empty_stocking or mail a check to The New Mexican’s Empty Stocking Fund c/o the Santa Fe Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1827, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1827.

Donors can request to remain anonymous.

If you can provide a service such as roofing or home repairs, contact Habitat for Humanity at repairs@ santafehabitat.org.

If you can contribute food, clothing, toys, housewares, furniture, firewood, or other items or services, call the Salvation Army at 505-988-8054.

If you donate online in honor of a friend or loved one, a custom e-card can be sent from the Empty Stocking Fund to let them know about your contribution, courtesy of the Santa Fe Community Foundation and InSight Foto.

To apply for assistance: Applications for help must be received by 5 p.m. Nov. 30 to be considered by the Empty Stocking Fund Committee. Those who have received aid from the fund within the past four years will not be provided aid again this year.

Applications can be submitted online at www.santafenewmexican. com/empty_stocking. People who do not otherwise have access to the internet can go to any of the city’s three public libraries or to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions at 301 W. De Vargas St.

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be considered without regard to race, creed, place or country of origin, age, disability, ethnicity, color, gender identity, marital status or sexual orientation.

Recipients must live in Santa Fe County or Rio Arriba County and provide a Social Security number.

Donations

Elizabeth and Vincent Faust and Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program: $250 Len and Larry Furrow: $100 Carol Ann Mullaney and Peter Gary: $50 Zoe Gayl: $100 Suzanne and Norman George: $325 Sara and Dick Haber: $250 Wendell and Harriett Harris: $100

Martha Formosa and Bob Hirasuna: $50

Sharon and Robert Jackson: $500

Gayle Johnson and Bank of America Matching Gifts Program: $200 Judith Kotrla: $50 Kenneth and Mary Lou Kurtz: $200 Lynn Lee: $50 Total: $2,225 Cumulative total: $25,730