Widowed mom, four children need help to stay in home

Kira is a mother of five who could use a little Operation Holiday cheer.

“I’m a widowed mom of five kids — they’re 27, 26, 18, 12 and 10,” Kira said.

“They all have different dads, but it was my husband from my third child that passed away, and I literally don’t even date anymore,” she said.

Four of those five live with Kira in a home in Collegeville — more on that soon — including two, the 18- and 27-year-olds, who just moved back in with mom.

“My first daughter is planning on getting married, and wanted to move back here to save some money. And my 18-year-old was living with her girlfriend, but then her girlfriend had to go to another state, so she had to move back here,” Kira said.

The father helping care for the family passed away in 2006, and the family lived with Kira’s mother until she subsequently passed away in 2007, and it’s been a struggle ever since.

“We were living with my mom, and she passed away, and then we ended up having to move here, and I used all of my life insurance to move here. It’s been crazy,” she said.

“I paid my rent for two years

after she passed away, so it’s been a while, but our lease is up on Jan. 31 so I’m trying to find someplace else to go. My landlord’s not very nice, and I literally have no income right now,” Kira said.

What does the family need most? Kira, which is not her real name, said their needs are few, but obvious.

“Just clothing is a big help, that’s what I have the hardest time getting, and sneakers. The’re always growing,” said Kira.

“We’re all having our own problems right now, but if somebody could say a little prayer and help us all get along, that would be great.”

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

“We’re all having our own problems right now, but if somebody could say a little prayer and help us all get along, that would be great.”

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 Reporter, 307 Derstine Ave., Lansdale PA 19446 or to The Pottstown Mercury, Attn: Operation Holiday, PO Box 1181, Pottstown, PA 19464. 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.