I am a single mother of four ranging from age 13-5 .All i do is work to survive. I work nights just to dedicate time to my children. I live paycheck to paycheck but this christmas i'm really suffering.I don't qualify for assistance because i meet the criteria over by $40. mind you i pay everything myself.
2006-11-27 01:28:10 · 21 answers · asked by ysncruz 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Community Service
I live in N. FL and some of the programs around here is the Christmas Connection and you could call your local sherriffs office. At my son's school, there is a little tree with age and needs on paper ornaments for people to pick a child they would like to give to, it is sponsered by our local sherriffs office. Call Today to hurry and get your family on the list. What a wonderful mama you are. I'm sure your babies will have a Merry Christmas because their mom is doing everything in her power to make sure of it. Good Luck.
2006-11-27 01:50:54 · answer #1 · answered by Dolphin 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am also a single mother with no child support. Perhaps your 13 yr old can get a babysitting or other job to help. I saw a post that mentioned "Christmas isn't all about presents" and thought that was THE BEST!! Why don't you start a new tradition of making each other gifts and making a new tradition that has nothing to do with "material gifts"?? The home-made types of gifts are priceless. Heck, I still have the macaroni necklace my son gave me or the pottery I call a "dish" he made (we'd call it an ashtray, but is an item holder.) It sounds like you really need to get some part-time work in the daytime, so you can stay home with your kids most days, and support them and buy them things with the 2nd paycheck. Have you ever considered going to school during the day (even part-time) because the best gift you can have and show your kids is "an education". I know nursing types of jobs are pretty good money and nursing types of jobs are plentiful anywhere you go. You didn't mention anything about the father(s)?? I pay everything myself too, but I went to college and got a degree, so I could provide for my son, no matter what. There are plenty of tuition-programs out there everywhere, so you wouldn't have any more Christmas's like this anymore. One more thought......I always shop in the "off-season" all year long, I will pick something up when clearance sales go on (just bought my son designer jean shorts for $3/pair!!), or you should be shopping at dollar-type stores. I can buy canned veggies for 40 cents a can and they're just as nutritious and delicious as the $1.39 can, I know I checked. Maybe money and time management is where you really need assistance. God Bless!
2006-11-27 04:40:43 · answer #2 · answered by Samantha 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your story is a very sad one to read; however, there is hope! I'm sure that if you were able to obtain funds from the children's father (s), you would have thought about it before posting. So I won't even suggest that.
You can take several steps to ensure that your little ones have a wonderful Christmas. First, many have posted about the Toys for Tots Program. This program does NOT base their help on your income. Everyone who applies will receive a new gift (sometimes more than one) for his/her child. You can even put on your application a wish list. This will give the Marines a better idea of what to give the child. Of course, they won't be able to give anything like a PS3 or XBOX 360 or anything like that. However, the gifts are new and age appropriate. The program is only for children who ranges from ages 0-12 though. This means your 13-year-old won't qualify. However, if you belong to a church, you can talk to your pastor about your situation, and I am sure that your church has some kind of program to help people in need during the holiday, and perhaps you can get a gift for your 13-year-old from the sponsoring church. If for some odd reason, your church does not have this type of program, look up a church in the yellow pages in your hometown and call one and ask to speak to the pastor. Surely, a church in your town can help. Christmas toys and gifts are the most costly. If you can get someone or an organization to donate these items, this will help defer your expenses. Then you can use your money to fund a nice Christmas dinner.
You can also make very inexpensive, thoughtful gifts for your children. I think the retail industry has turned Christmas into a material holiday instead of a day for celebration. I have a 7-year-old daughter and I have a family tradition where I will always give her a homemade gift included with her store bought gifts. I teach her that Christmas is about giving not receiving. She loves my gifts more than the store bought gifts since they are personalized. Maybe this might work for your kids as well. I think we need to teach our children that the true spirit of Christmas is in the Giving not receiving. You can google search the web to find various sites that give your excellent ideas on inexpensive holiday gifts. Use "Inexpensive Christmas gifts" and/or "Inexpensive homemade Christmas gifts" in your search. Using the quotations may help narrow your search to find sites that pertain more closely to your subject. I hope this helps out!
2006-11-27 02:52:42 · answer #3 · answered by KristyKringle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Florida but do not know exactly where to go since I do not know which part you are in but I would try many places...Toys for Tots(they have a website) Try local radio and tv stations some are raising toys for the needy...Also some club affiliations such as the Elks, Rotary, etc...I also know that the Denny's here where I live has an angel tree, put up a tag for each of them there. I was a single mom for about 6 years and received no child support and worked two jobs and still did not have enough money. I remarried and doing ok, but still know how rough it was for many years and needed help. I used to live in Boston and they had a Globe Santa (for the Boston Globe) also try the Salvation Army or any other community not for profit agency...God Bless..sometimes you have to put your pride aside to make sure your children have all that they need, I know how hard that is.
2006-11-27 01:37:12 · answer #4 · answered by Mom of Four 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would try the Salvation Army and churches. Check with you community resorces. There are many places that help folks like yourself. I am glad that my two boys are grown. I have struggled somewhat over the years myself. I always managed somehow at Christmas and birthdays. I have been guilty of letting some of my bills go for the month of Dec. and then got them caught up in January and February at tax time.
I hope it works out for you. If I could help I would but I now have an 8 year old grand daughter in Florida. Trying to see her for Christmas.
Good Luck and God Bless You
2006-11-27 01:33:52 · answer #5 · answered by MsFancy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Consider social service agencies not run by government. Here we have organizations that run shelters and food pantries, they operate thrift stores and help folks pay for medications and get job training. If you offlist me what city/county, I'll see what I can find in your region.
Also local churches and Salvation Army. While many agencies that do Angel Tree and UnTrim A Tree projects get their lists from Department of Social Services, it's also possible to make an individual request. Consider your local police department. Here (outside of DC) we have "Shop With A Cop" where children spend a morning with a police officer. They go to breakfast, then shopping with $100 to spend on themselves and/or family members for Christmas.
I've been there... done that... it's difficult and my heart goes out to you. I didn't qualify for assistance because my car was relatively new and worth too much money. I guess I was supposed to sell the car to buy food....
2006-11-27 01:34:13 · answer #6 · answered by thegirlwholovedbrains 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Contact a church or the Red Cross. Maybe even the Salvation Army. You are the kind of people they want to help. Not necessarily the people who are always looking for a handout.
Good luck. And remember that it isn't all about presents. You sound like a great mom to be caring so much for the little ones.
2006-11-27 01:43:45 · answer #7 · answered by Momma Jo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This year I am taking my children downtown so that they can witness for themselves how blessed they are. It's not about how much money you spend or what you received; we miss the fundamental of Christmas, Christmas is about being thankful for all things. It's just that simple. We need to teach our children to be thankful for the bed that they slept in, the shoes on their feet and the food in their bellies. They need to be thankful for the roof over their heads. It's not about going to toysrus or material desires. I tell my children (all 3 of them ages 8,10,15) be thankful, feel the warmth and savor the memory because after Christmas it's all over. That's why thankfulness lasts a lifetime, don't by me a gift once a year, I show my children how I take care of them throughout the year.
2006-11-27 02:47:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Local organizations can help - also, now could be a time to teach your children that Christmas is not about gifts. My mother always took us to shelters to assist. Your children are old enough to realize that there is significance in helping others. That could show them that there are others who have more worries. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
2006-11-27 02:00:24 · answer #9 · answered by downinmn 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i live in canada and things are differant here, although one thing is the same, being a single mom is hard! I just wanted to say that you dont have to buy much for your kids, a couple little things, as long as you are all together for the hoildays, thats all that matters. Merry Chritmas to you and good luck, also praying goes a long way.
2006-11-27 01:56:19 · answer #10 · answered by trish p 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋