Single mom of 3 hopes to bring Christmas spirit to her kids
Elizabeth works tirelessly for her kids and spends the rest of her time working to help others.
A single mom of three, Elizabeth is struggling this holiday season to provide her kids with the gifts she knows they deserve.
“I have 14-year-old and she wants the more expensive stuff, a 12-year-old son who is into electronics and a 6-year-old. She’s into the more expensive stuff too because of her older siblings,” said Elizabeth.
Elizabeth works hard as a peer support counselor for those in addiction recovery, and in addition to her three children also helps her mother who is in recovery as well, which makes the holidays a little harder.
“I’m a single parent with three kids. Their dads aren’t really involved in their lives so I don’t get too much help. I don’t have any family members. My dad passed away and I take care of my mom because she has a drug addiction,” she said. “For the holidays we don’t do much because I don’t have much family. We just stay at home keep it low key and usually I try to take my 6-year-old to see the lights and stuff.”
Elizabeth says although she tries to keep the Christmas spirit alive, she has explained to her older children that the holidays will be a little tougher — and they’ve been more than understanding.
“Sometimes I feel like I can’t provide for what they want and they say it’s OK and tell me I’m the best mom and tell me they love me,” she said.
While the holidays are expected to be pretty hard on Elizabeth and her family this year, she is still looking forward to the season for what it’s all about, adding that Operation Holiday has been a welcome aid. “I appreciate that this was offered to me. I’m really grateful. I just want everyone to remember what the Christmas spirit is. It’s not about what you get, it’s about being with your family and the ones you love.” 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.