Losing job at holiday season is traumatic

Losing a job at any time of the year is traumatic. “Where will my next paycheck come from?” “What new work can I find?” “How can I pay my bills?” All those questions swirl around a person’s head when they face being unemployed.

But losing a job just as the holiday season is upon us can be exponentially more stressful. Along with all the other worries comes the question, “How will we celebrate this year?”

That is the question that Stephanie and her family of four face this year. Stephanie, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, lost her job at a western Chester County big box retailer just as the month was starting. Already living on a tight budget, she now finds herself having to put together a holiday on even less money.

And that is where Operation Holiday comes in.

“It’s definitely put a damper on things, but I’m looking for a job now,” Stephanie said.

Stephanie said she normally celebrates Christmas with her twin son and daughter, now in their teens, and her stepson, who is 8 years old.

“It’s just us every year,” she said. “It’s always a struggle.”

In addition to Christmas, there are also family birthdays to celebrate, she said.

“They understand that I can’t always provide a lot of gifts, but I do what I can,” she said. “Usually, we just spend the whole day together. We bake and make dinner, and it’s a treat for us to be together all day. Nobody goes anywhere. It’s a day just for us.”

Stephanie said she considers herself lucky to have children who understand the situation, and don’t ask for much.

“They say that the best present they’ve ever received is my being their mom,” she said.

Operation Holiday

Operation Holiday was started in 1991 at The Mercury in Pottstown to help families going through tough times provide something for their children during the holidays. The mission of the program is to make sure there is food on the table and gifts under the tree when Christmas morning comes.

Now in its 32nd year, the program has served thousands of families throughout Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties, expanding its reach in recent years to include communities served by Reading Eagle, The Times Herald, The Reporter, and Daily Local News.

More than $122,000 in donations last year provided food and gifts for 379 children and cash donations to 13 food pantries in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.

This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 22 agencies in the tri-county area. Agencies have referred 144 families with 375 children for gifts and food and an additional 34 families for food. The program is also assisting the eight families in Pottstown who lost their homes in a devastating explosion in May.

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 who volunteer their time.

Gift cards to area grocery stores are provided to each family for food, so that they can purchase the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry. Weis Markets is a partner with Operation Holiday and has assisted with food purchases and gift cards.

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 so that families can purchase gifts of their choice.

Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency.

Operation Holiday is funded solely by reader contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.

How to donate

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.

Contributions can be mailed with checks payable to Operation Holiday to PO Box 1181, Pottstown PA 19464; The Reporter, 307 Derstine Ave., Lansdale PA 19446; Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607.