Single mom won’t allow setback to ruin plans

A single mom with 5 children was trying to earn certification when her school announced it will close.

Anna was three weeks away from being certified by Antonelli Medical and Professional Institute as a medical assistant when the news broke that the school will be closing.

A single mom with five kids, trying to make ends meet between child support, a part-time job and food stamps, the news that her efforts to make a better life for herself and her family had been undermined was hard to take.

“I was upset for a few days,” said Anna, whose name has been changed here to protect her privacy and that of her family.

“But I’m not going to stop now. I decided to be an example for my kids that if you don’t give up, you can accomplish anything,” she said. “I’ve got a 4.0 average and straight As, and I won’t quit.”

It has been hard, between work and managing the schedules of two boys, ages 12 and 13; and three girls, ages 6, 8 and 10, a part-time work schedule and school.

“The last 13 months have been hard. My kids don’t see me and when I leave at night to go to school, the little ones cry when I go,” said Anna.

In addition to the parttime pay, food stamps and medical assistance, Anna also gets support from her ex. But Christmas time can be hard on a tight budget, even with dad providing half.

“My kids aren’t picky. They tell you want they want and they are always grateful for what they get, but it gets harder as they get older,” said Anna.

“I’ve been working so hard, but I was starting to stress” about getting gifts for her children, she said.

But some of that stress evaporated when she was told what Operation Holiday will be doing for her children and her holiday.

“Oh my God, that’s wonderful,” she said. “That means so much.”

Kicking off its 27th year, Operation Holiday has been providing meals and gifts to local families since 1991. The idea behind Operation Holiday is to offer a helping hand to those families who, during the season of giving, are unable to afford what many of us consider holiday staples such as presents and bountiful holiday meals.

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.”