Struggling mom of 2 works toward brighter future

Out of work for several months during the pandemic, Melissa, a single mother of two, knows that the holidays will present some financial struggles but she is not one to dwell on the negative and has turned to higher education to prepare her family for a better future.

“My children drive everything that I do. They’re my means for living. That’s why I always try to be in a position where everybody can be OK,” Melissa, a mother of two daughters, ages 5 and 13, said during a recent interview.

Melissa, 32, is enrolled in the physical therapy program at a community college.

“I want to help people. With physical therapy you get to see people regain their lives through learning how to walk again, getting better, and you can be a part of how they recover,” said

Melissa, who dreams of a rewarding career and one that will allow her to be in a better financial position to support her family.

Melissa, who does not receive child support, previously worked two jobs, as a home health aide and at a local fast food restaurant to support her family the best she could and while taking college courses. But when the pandemic surfaced in March, shutting down her children’s schools, Melissa had no choice but to stay at home to assist her children with virtual learning.

“Once school shut down I needed to

be home to help them with homeschool,” said Melissa. “And my younger daughter is autistic and so she sees various amounts of therapists throughout the week so I had to be home to do the telehealth conferences.”

During the time she was out of work, Melissa, who lives in subsidized housing, received some public cash assistance and relied on local food banks to help feed her family.

“Living in public housing, at no point was I ever behind in rent, by the grace of God, because it goes by your income. We had our basic needs met. I am so grateful for that help,” said Melissa, who resides in Pottstown.

Melissa, who is still enrolled in virtual college courses, said she was able to obtain a new job in the retail industry at the beginning of November which will help her financial situation as Christmas nears.

But Melissa doesn’t dwell on the gift-giving aspect of Christmas and instead focuses more on the importance of being together as a family.

“I get what I can,” said Melissa, explaining her plan was to buy one gift for each of her daughters and nothing more than $20. “There are people out there during the pandemic waiting for evictions or are hungry and I feel grateful that we didn’t have to go through that. I’m just happy to still be maintaining and being together.”

When Melissa learned that her family was a recipient of this year’s Operation Holiday program she was overwhelmed.

“It’s really awesome and I want you to know I really do appreciate it. Thank you so much. God bless you,” Melissa reacted.

Operation Holiday helps families like Melissa’s every year.

Now in its 30th year, Operation Holiday has provided a brighter holiday season to thousands of families with children throughout the region. Donations from readers last year totaled more than $35,000 and allowed the program to provide food and gifts for 107 families with 325 children in need.

This year, 15 agencies in Montgomery and Chester counties have referred families in need, many of them affected by the devastation of the global pandemic. Stories of families interviewed by our reporters will appear in the newspaper and online between now and December 24. Also this year due to the hardship in our communities caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Operation Holiday will make cash donations to local food pantries so that families will have access to food during the winter months.

There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay local. Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of MediaNews Group.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, the food packaging program will not take place this year. Families instead will be given gift cards for food in addition to the gift cards for gifts.

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

“I get what I can. There are people out there during the pandemic waiting for evictions or are hungry and I feel grateful that we didn’t have to go through that. I’m just happy to still be maintaining and being together.”

— Melissa, mother of two daughters

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 can be mailed to The Mercury, Attn: Operation Holiday,

PO Box 1181, Pottstown, PA 19464, or The Reporter, 307 Derstine Ave., Lansdale PA 19446. Make checks payable to “Operation Holiday.” Online donations are being accepted in a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Visit https://tcnetwork.org/ and click on the link for Operation Holiday.