‘Santa didn’t go away. He’s still here in a different way’

After struggling through months of joblessness and homelessness, Carlyn, a single mother of one, says the greatest gift this holiday is that she has a permanent place to reside thanks to the help and generosity of a caring community.

“I have an apartment and my son is with me. That’s the most important thing,” Carlyn said during a recent interview.

In late 2019, Carlyn, 41, escaped a domestic abuse situation and while homeless she and her

5-year-old son lived in a Salvation Army shelter.

But with the help of Montgomery County’s Your Way Home program, which assists those who are facing homelessness, Carlyn said she recently was able to obtain an apartment and she has also received assistance from Montgomery County Children and Youth Services.

“They stayed with me, guided me through everything and made me feel like, as a parent, I was doing the best I could and I just needed that resource to help us out,” Carlyn said.

Earlier this year, Carlyn was working at a local restaurant, trying to make a better life for her family. However, in March, Carlyn was laid off from her job when the coronavirus pandemic surfaced. Unemployment

benefits kept her family afloat until recently when those benefits expired.

“My benefits are gone. I’m trying to make it. It’s a struggle,” Carlyn said.

Carlyn said finding a job during the pandemic has not been easy. She dreams of finding a job as a home health aide.

“It’s difficult this year. I want to take care of people. I want to pay it forward. I want to give back by taking care of everybody,” Carlyn said. “I love to help people.”

Being a prideful person, Carlyn said sometimes it is difficult to seek help. She added she is overcome with emotion to learn there are generous strangers and programs like Operation Holiday to assist her family during financial struggles.

“It makes me want to cry. I am more than grateful. It really is a true blessing. No words can describe it. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that people are listening, that someone is hearing our struggle and is doing the best to make sure kids don’t lose their hope at Christmas,” said Carlyn, her voice quivering with emotion at times.

“Santa didn’t go away. He’s still here in a different way. We’re going to get through this,” Carlyn added.

Carlyn shared her story to inspire those who can to give to the children of our community at this most appropriate time, the holidays.

Operation Holiday helps families like Carlyn’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 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.

“It makes me want to cry. I am more than grateful. It really is a true blessing. No words can describe it. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that people are listening, that someone is hearing our struggle and is doing the best to make sure kids don’t lose their hope at Christmas.” — Carlyn