Make the holidays brighter with a donation to those in need
For the fifth year in a row, the Hour has partnered with Family & Children’s Agency for the Giving Fund. Each week on Thursdays and Sundays, The Hour will publish 10 stories of clients from FCA who need some help. The needs vary from school supplies and child care to home furnishings and groceries. Each story has a case number, and donations can be made at Family & Children’s Agency, Inc. Acceptiva.
Donations can be designated to a specific case or to the general Client Support Fund at FCA.
The families and individuals mentioned in the stories often don’t know they have been submitted, and names have been changed to protect their privacy. Donations made in excess of a client’s need will go to the Client Support Fund to help others in need.
Each case in the Giving Fund includes an estimated dollar amount that would help a local person or family tackle everyday challenges such as rent payments, child care costs and transportation. Every dollar donated to the Giving Fund goes directly to the people in the stories, which will be published twice a week throughout the holiday season. Here are more stories: 235: Alex is a high school student who cares for his two younger siblings while his single mother is at work. Despite hardships, he works hard in school and attends FCA’s after-school program to help keep his grades up. The kids are all growing quickly and it’s been hard to keep up with their changing sizes. A gift of $250 would help get them all new coats and clothes for the winter.
236: Elka is the mother of two children and her youngest was diagnosed with autism. She recently divorced her emotionally abusive husband. She needs to move into a new apartment that will be safe for her children but needs help with the security deposit. A gift of $500 would help her put money down on a new place so they can start the next chapter of their lives.
237: Adriana is a single mother of a pre-teen and is also taking care of her infant niece due to the baby’s mother’s significant struggle with addiction. The baby requires a specific formula due to allergies, but it’s not covered by food assistance. A gift of $200 would help Adriana purchase the nutritious formula her niece requires and some baby essentials like diapers and wipes.
238: Greta works hard to take care of her children, one of whom has microcephaly. The medications he needs to control his seizures costs hundreds of dollars each month, and Greta struggles to pay for them in addition to her family’s other needs. A gift of $500 would pay for nearly two months of medication to relieve some of the strain.
239: Antonia and her husband have three daughters and recently moved into an apartment after living in a homeless shelter. Although they are working, they haven’t been able to fully furnish their new home. They have a dining table, but no chairs to sit and enjoy a meal together. A gift of $400 would help them get five chairs so they can sit together as a family.