Mom, caregiver trying to hold family together

A full-time mom and full-time caregiver, Jill’s had a hard 2020, but is hoping Operation Holiday can help her hold things together through the holidays for her two kids.

“So far, things have been unexpected, but I’m just trying to finish it out in the best way possible, with whatever God has in store for me,” she said.

Her day job is to care for the elderly in West Norriton, and by

night she has a 13-year-old daughter and a four-yearold son, and all three have been trying to keep up with learning online.

“Last semester, it was really a challenge, because I had never taken an online class. Moving into spring, I took another class, and so far, to be honest, I’m quite backed up on submitting my work to my professor,” said Jill, whose name has been changed to protect their identities.

“I’m also depressed, at the moment, with everything going on. At one point I had to stop working, and stay home, because I could not cope, being out there, and not knowing what I’m going to do.”

In the past couple of months, Jill has run into car trouble — “my battery was on the fritz,” which meant other things for her family had to wait while that was replaced. Working and being a full-time mom means there’s not much time for anything else, like cooking dinner for the kids.

“A lot of times, I get home from work, and I am so tired I can’t cook. I just make maybe a quick meal, maybe some pasta and spaghetti sauce, or macaroni and cheese with something silly, ground turkey or chicken maybe,” she said.

“It’s coming to an end. Hopefully next year will be better, and I’m grateful that one of the things I’m able to do in the morning is wake up with a sound mind. Suffering from depression, I have thoughts, and thoughts you can’t act out...because you have to do the greater good, for yourself and your loved ones.”

Jill’s daughter is in eighth grade, and trying to make honor roll but hasn’t quite had the grades yet, while her son is four and still learning his letters, numbers, colors, and the basics. They’re all trying to spend as much time together as possible, even despite the pandemic.

“I used to take them all out, one day a week, just to make them go to the park. Even though it was socially distanced, I used to just take them for a stroll,” Jill said.

“He has a small scooter, and she might walk and be on her little phone — teenagers nowadays — but they have been coping. They’re happy, and I think that’s what counts. They’re happy.”

At work, Jill has to wear a mask and gloves every day, and has taken every precaution to try to avoid bringing COVID-19 home. What do they plan to do for the holidays?

“I’m from the Caribbean, so mostly my family, my grandfather, we always had Christmas at her house, and she would say ‘Just make something and bring it over,’ and we’d all share from each one’s meals that come into a home,” she said.

“That’s my Christmas tradition. I can’t go over to my grandmother’s, because

I can only call and say what I have to say, just to make her feel OK.”

Local food pantries have helped Jill and her family make ends meet, particularly the Haws Avenue United Methodist Church in Norristown, which she said has helped with both food and clothing, and where she also tries to give back as often as possible.

“I actually have some toys I’m about to take over to the Goodwill ... I have to make that donation; giving makes me feel great,” she said.

“The clothes are pretty reasonable too. Kids grow out of things, and I know it would be nice for somebody else to find something, that’s worn but not old, and be happy and grateful for it.”

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 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.