As today’s food pantry supplies dwindle, the homeless population balloons, companies continue massive downsizing and healthcare costs skyrocket, the holiday season looks bleak for hundreds of underserved families.
This means that more fortunate individuals in the region have a wonderful opportunity to spread joy and provide vital sustenance to many worthy, underserved families.
The holiday season’s annual “People Against Poverty Campaign,” presented since its inception by Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH), in collaboration with the St. Louis American.
Now in its 16th year, this humanitarian effort is faced with the drastically expanding challenge of reversing the devastating effects of poverty. The exponentially growing underserved population is threatened by an increasingly insensitive economic and political climate. You can help.
If you would like to literally rescue a family, please call CWAH at 289-7523 to make a donation of money or tangible items. Checks should be made payable to “Community Women Against Hardship.”
Case # 1: Ms. A. A. had to leave college in 1990 to care for both of her parents. Her father died in 1999 and her mother is in a nursing care facility. She lost her home and personal items and, after a year of employment, her job at TWA. She was able to find work from January 2002 until March 2004. Now she is without transportation, behind in rent payments and her gas is off. Her unemployment is almost expired, but she has a new job promised. Moreover, she is diabetic with a rare eye disease requiring special contact lenses. Her wish list includes a computer, business to casual skirts, blouses, shoes, dresses and furniture.
Case # 2: Ms. G. B. is a lonely, depressed widow who lost her spouse in 1993. Always a single parent, she has two adult offspring and a 15-year-old and a 12-year-old at home. After 25 years, she was laid off in 2000 by General American. Unable to get a good job, it seems she is considered overqualified, and her Social Security benefits for the children do not cover her mortgage, car note and utility bills. She was recently burglarized and has been unable to repair the damage, and her washer and dryer have been broken for over a year. She also has a $1,200 sewer bill. Her daughter fears that her depression may lead to a nervous breakdown. A very giving person, now she needs whatever help that can be provided.
Case # 3: Ms. Y. B., 35 years old, has moved from a shelter to transitional housing to Section 8 housing to a first-time homebuyers program, having purchased her first home two years ago. She has three teenage daughters with babies and 10-year-old and 6-year-old sons. The 6-year-old has sickle cell anemia, which requires hospitalization. She does work, but is required to visit food pantries frequently and can barely pay her large utility bills. Her wish list includes shirts, pants, shoes, underewear, jeans, sweat shirts, sweat pants, t-shirts, socks, bikes, sleepers, educational toys, baby toys, action figures, bath towels, boys’ bunk beds and a living room set.
Case # 4: Ms. K. B., 27 years old, has three boys of her own and one foster child. In June 2004 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and has undergone three surgeries. A personal home-maker for the elderly, she was unable to work for a few months, and the temporary income received from TANF and foster care was insufficient to sustain her rent and utilities. Still receiving medical treatment, she has begun doing laundry out of her home to make ends meet. She would like to have bedding (one king, two full, two twin sheets and comforters), dishes, silverware, glasses, bowls, cups, a shower curtain, a rug, decorations, skillets, pots and a computer for children’s homework. With herself and four boys – two 11-year-olds, a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old – she needs coats, hats, gloves, shoes, pants, socks, underwear, t-shirts and wireless bras.
Case # 5: Ms. T. B. is a single welfare mother with a 3-year-old, an 11-month-old and a one and a toddler, who is blind in one eye and has a heart condition. The child’s SSI benefits have been discontinued. She is also responsible for the care of a blind, wheelchair-bound grandmother and has no assistance. She is about to lose her home, and needs everything from coats to diapers to beds.
If you would like to share in the spirit of giving, please call CWAH at 289-7523.