Fixed income, bills hinder Christmas joy
POTTSTOWN » As Christmas nears, Helena’s thoughts turn to her two great-great-grandchildren whom she is raising and the joy she’d like them to experience this season.
However, mounting tax bills and the replacement of a faulty heater, as the temperatures turned colder, have left the 78-year-old Helena worried she might not be able to provide the two little girls, ages 8 and 12, with the bountiful holiday they and it cost me an arm and a leg and I don’t know how I’m going to pay him,” Helena said recently. “But the heater was definitely a priority because we were sitting in the cold.”
Helena said it’s tough to make ends meet on her fixed income and still give the girls the things they want and need.
“It makes me feel really bad. A lot of things have been happening at once,” said Helena, her voice trailing as she revealed her sister also recently passed away. “It’s really rough right now.”
Helena said she has told her great-great-granddaughters that they might not receive Christmas gifts this year.
“So far they understand. After they found out what was going on they didn’t ask for anything, so far,” Helena said. “Any assistance I can get would be appreciated.”
Despite her hardships, Helena said she is still blessed that she and her great-great-granddaughters will be together this holiday.
Helena shared her story with The Mercury to inspire those who can to give to the children of our community at this most appropriate time, the holidays.
Now in its 27th year, Operation Holiday has provided a brighter holiday season to thousands of families with children. Last year more than $50,000 in donations allowed the program to provide food and gifts for 144 families with 447 children in need.
The program was created and exists for children. The mission of Operation Holiday is to ensure that children of the Pottstown area have food to eat and gifts to open, no matter how poor or difficult their family situation may be.
There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay in the Pottstown area. Families are referred by more than 20 local agencies and churches.
Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of The Mercury.
Food, which includes the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry, is ordered, bought, packed and distributed by Mercury employees and Pottstown High School student government volunteers.
Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies.
Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency in order to protect the integrity of the program.
Operation Holiday is funded solely by readers’ contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.
Contributions may be mailed or brought to the offices of The Mercury, Attn: Operation Holiday, 24 N. Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19464. Make checks payable to Operation Holiday