Jobs just are not covering the bills

It’s a struggle to make ends meet even with two full-time positions

Linda and her husband each work full-time.

She’s a health aide and he’s a small engine mechanic.

“We both were at OK jobs and we were struggling,” she said.

So they each got new, better jobs in the past year. But that hasn’t ended the struggles for the family, which includes children ages 15, 14 and 12.

“The vehicles broke and the inspection was up and as soon as

it started getting cold, we ran out of oil,” Linda, whose name has been changed for this article, said.

The family’s still eligible for the state’s LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) assistance with the oil bills, but doesn’t get as much as before because of their increased income, she said.

Last year, they got $500, which filled the tank. This year, they get $200.

“Three hundred fifty dollars is what we need to get the minimum of 150 gallons,” Linda said.

Buying in lesser amounts puts the price per gallon up, raising the overall cost, she said.

With the increased income, the family also no longer gets help from the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) program and has had cuts to their state-assisted insurance coverage.

Linda says she wishes the cuts in the state assistance wouldn’t have happened immediately.

“I just don’t understand how they say you got a better job and you go downhill,” she said.

“We were hoping to have a month or two to get ourselves on our feet, but now we’re struggling again,” Linda said. “Everything was cut, so we kind of fall back behind.”

Trying to keep up with the cost of living remains stressful, she said.

“We have the kids who need shoes and clothes, and they’re growing,” she said.

Linda says she feels bad about asking for assistance because she knows there are people who are worse off, but says the aid will help make her family able to sustain itself.

“Just sometimes that little bit of help gets you ahead,” she said.

Now in its 29th year, Operation Holiday has provided a brighter holiday season to thousands of families with children throughout the region. Donations from readers last year allowed the program to provide food and gifts for 144 families with 442 children in need.

This year, 15 agencies in Montgomery County and northern Chester County have referred 107 families with 325 children. Stories of families interviewed by our reporters will appear in the newspaper and online between now and December 24.

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.

Food, which includes the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry, is ordered, bought, packed and distributed by employees and their family members as well as local high school and community volunteers.

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.

Names and donations will be published in the newspaper as they are received. Please note if you want your donation to be listed as “Anonymous” for publication or if you would like it listed as “In memory of ...” or “In honor of ...” Donations that do not include a notation will be published with the name of the donor as written on the check.