Despite job loss, mother of 6 remains optimistic
Despite losing her job as a customer service representative, Victoria remains upbeat about her situation and her ability to get through the upcoming holidays without an overabundance of stress.
Her understanding children are a big part of her conf idence, noted the mother of six children, ages 14, 12, 11, 6, 2, and 4 months old.
“The older ones, because I just lost my job, understand more. They said if they can get gifts that’s great, but if not I shouldn’t worry about it. They’re more concerned about the smaller ones, who are boys, getting gifts because they still believe in Santa, even my 6-year-old,” Victoria sai
Victoria, which is not her real name, is grateful for any donations she stands to receive for Christmas gifts. She said the staff at the Montgomery County Assistance Office help connect her with resources.
“The office said that they would reach out to me closer to Christmas,” she said. “I have free insurance through them and they help me with food stamps and medical. They are really helpful. I’ve
had insurance through them for years, and whenever I call for any reason they’ll help in any way they can.”
So far, her housing situation has been consistent, but she said she will look to Montgomery County Assistance Office if necessary.
“The waiting list for housing is really long right now and they can only help so many people. I know the list is really full,” she noted. “They said I’d have to wait for enrollment for different things, and as long as I qualify they can help. I know I’d qualify right now but I don’t plan to be unemployed very long. And it depends on how much you earn what you can qualify for. If you make over a certain amount then you don’t qualify.”
The Assistance Office has offered to help with her job search as well, Victoria said.
However, she is fairly confident on her own in that department.
“I have my resume on Indeed, which is where I found my last job.”
Her mother got her a 15-pound Thanksgiving turkey through a food distribution at the high school, so her family is all set to begin celebrating the holidays, she said.
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 staf f 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.