Struggling to give her children a meaningful Christmas

Abby is a struggling single parent with two children, who cannot find work.

She is also disabled and preparing for surgery at month’s end.

“I moved here to Lorain three years ago to start a new life,” Abby said.

But with another frigid winter on the horizon, she’s worried about getting warm, winter coats for her children, Sally, 11, and Evan, 10.

It was from a friend that Abby found out about the Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-A-Child program.

The program relies on volunteer shoppers who use donations of money contributed from our readers to purchase warm winter apparel for the needy school-aged children in the area. All administrative costs are paid for by The Morning Journal.

She said her children won’t receive much in the way of gifts this year. But the coats furnished by Mary Lee Tucker will make their Christmas meaningful.

Meanwhile, Abby is preparing for her surgery at the end of December.

“I had a miscarriage a couple months ago,” Abby said. “They have to do a D&C (dilation and curettage), to remove part of the baby that didn’t come out,” Abby said, her voice breaking.

She vows that when she gets back on her feet, come next Christmas, she will lend Mary Lee Tucker a helping hand.

“I would like to be a volunteer shopper one day,” Abby said. “It’s a great program.”

To volunteer your group of shoppers, call the Clothe-a-Child office at 440-245-6901, ext. 577. Leave a message with contact information.

The program relies on volunteer shoppers who use donations of money contributed from our readers to purchase warm winter apparel for the needy school-aged children in the area. All administrative costs are paid for by The Morning Journal.

Readers can make monetary donations in person at The Morning Journal. Checks or money orders can be made out to The Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a-Child Program and mailed to: The Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a-Child Program, c/o The Morning Journal, 1657 Broadway, Lorain, OH 44052.