Just a month before Christmas, April, a mom of three, finds her life turned upside down. Her husband was recently evicted from their home after she made the difficult decision to file a PFA order against him for chronic drug abuse.
After being evicted, April’s husband, the family breadwinner, emptied their bank accounts and his 401K, leaving the family penniless. April now finds herself struggling to pay the bills and facing eviction.
“My landlord is giving me until December 31,” said April.
Complicating matters further, April struggles to find employment due to a foot injury she sustained after her husband, while under the influence of drugs, crashed their car into a pole. April subsequently underwent eight surgeries but now requires an additional one for displaced fractures, a challenge given April’s circumstances.
“How am I gonna get a surgery when I don’t know where we’re going or how things are gonna turn out?” asked April. “I can’t just say yes to a surgery with a 12-week recovery.”
April’s injury leaves her unable to walk or stand for extended periods of time. She has applied for disability insurance but has not received a response.
“My depression is kicking in, especially not knowing how things are gonna be in the next two-to-four weeks,” said April.
The situation has taken a significant toll on April’s family, particularly her 12-year-old son, who she described as “very protective” of her.
“He’s having the worst of it. He just has a lot of emotions and is struggling at school,” said April. “But he’s such a good kid. He doesn’t get in trouble or anything like that.”
While April’s family will spend Thanksgiving at her mother’s church, where a meal will be provided after the service, her Christmas plans are uncertain. Her children have made Christmas lists, but April has been unable to purchase anything.
“It’s not fair for them not to have a Christmas because of everything that has happened in the past year,” said April. “I want to at least get a couple things on their lists.”
But for April, the best Christmas gift would simply be a stable, happy life for her family.
“I just want to be safe and secure in our new home, to understand that what happened isn’t our fault, and we can’t fix or save anybody even if it’s somebody we love,” said April.
History
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 34th 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 readers of the Reading Eagle, The Times Herald, The Reporter, and Daily Local News.
Nearly $90,000 in donations last year provided food and gifts for 419 children and 184 families, plus cash donations to food pantries in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 17 agencies in the tri-county area. Agencies have referred 189 families with 366 children for gifts and food.
There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay local. Funds are collected and audited in a nonprofit foundation account managed by staff of MediaNews Group newspapers 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 also can be mailed with checks payable to Operation Holiday to PO Box 1181, Pottstown PA 19464; The Reporter, 34 Susquehanna Ave., Suite 100, Lansdale PA 19446; Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607.
The names of all contributors are published in the participating newspapers as donations are received. Please note whether a contribution should be designated as anonymous or given in tribute or in memory of someone.
