Man seeks assistance to bridge gap between disability payments

A36-year-old Santa Fe man says the Social Security Administration notified him in October that due to a paperwork error, his disability benefits would be suspended and possibly not reinstated until January.

“Due to this unforeseen circumstance I am not able to cover basic necessities until then,” he wrote on his application.

He is asking for help paying for food and various household expenses.

He is among hundreds of community members seeking help this season from the Empty Stocking Fund.

The Empty Stocking Fund is a 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.

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.

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are considered without regard to race, creed, place or country of origin, age, disability, ethnicity, color, gender identity, marital status or sexual orientation. They must live in Santa Fe County or Rio Arriba County and provide a Social Security number.

The deadline to apply for assistance has passed.

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.