Aidpage

Greetings, and thank you for taking the time to read my post. I have a family four children, my wife and I also take care of our 84 year old grandmother. Things have gotten worse for us since I dislocated my AC (the bone that is attached to your clavicle and shoulder). I was told that if I had surgery it would not make a differance. I am starting to gain some range of motion in my shoulder, but still unable to work. I was working as an electrician, my wife is attending school to become a nurse.

I am hoping and praying that some one would help us for Christmas, or at least our children. Nick 17, Josh 13, Aaron 9, Arianna 15 months.

Thanks again for taking the time. God Bless and may His face shine upon you and yours this holiday season. Here is my info 505-242-7220

everlove.chavez500@gmail.com

Rudy and the Chavez family

hi everyone. It's hard to ask when a person has so much pride, but my kids need a christmas. I have 15 year old twin girls and a little boy that is 8. He does not understand that things are hard us. He says mom santa will be here. if anyone can help i would appreciate it. i am disabled and my husband does yards for a living but not this month or next month because of the weather.....i feel like we are sinking, but the kids keep us up and going....

i am a single mom of three boys ages 16 13 and 12.. i work parttime as busdriver..i dont get any state or welfare assistance..times have been hard for everyone this i know..i have absolutely no money for xmas this year..if anyone can help or suggest something i would appreciate it.. ive tried local churches and even my town hall..no one seems to b able to help..i know my children are older but everyone deserves a xmas..all i wish for xmas is that my kids have something to open..thank you

Hi, I never thought I would be writing a page like this, I have always been so proud of how well I was doing raising my kids. I am the mother of 3 great daughters...15, 11 and 5. I am married to a great man, who works so hard to make ends meet, but there just is never enough.

My oldest daughter last year had a very tramadic event happen to her last october,  and because of this, she has to be a witness at the trial in December. So another holiday season is ruined. My husband will have to miss work to attend the trials with her for support, and she will be a wreck. We worked so hard over the last year to put these events behind us, but now it is time for her to be brave, and put these men in jail.

All that being said, I am so scared I will not be able to provide a good chirstmas for my girls. Last year it was messed up because of events, and now this year, it will be another stuggle.

I hate asking for help, but if there is anyone out there that could help give my kids a better year I would be forever thankful. They are such good kids, and worked so hard to overcome life....I just wish I could do more.

Of course cash or giftcards would be great, but they would take ANYTHING. We love to go out as a family to eat, bowl, movies or anything, but have not been able to do this for almost 2 years.

Thanks so much.

Hello everyone, I do have to say that anyone still in need for Christmas, its pretty late in the day to ask and most charities already have their list together and are not accepting names. I will give you suggestions that may still be able to help you. I wish everyone luck and God bless.

Anyone with a legitimate need for themselves, children, or the elderly should contact the Marine Corps Toys for Tots (items for kids 0-16 yrs); the Salvation Army; local Lions Clubs often adopt a needy family for the season; the Red Cross will offer help; many police departments adopt a family for the holidays; Social Service agencies, VFW's, and churches offer help. Use the phone book and your computer to look. You can also check Human Services, they may have ideas on where to look in your community.Contact a church, any church, even if you are not a member they will help you or find someone who will help you. If you have a St. Vinnie's many of them have food pantries. If you have children in school contact the school principal and ask for any help they can give; Many of the Lions Clubs have mitten trees, even local libraries sometimes have mitten trees. You will have to do some calling, but once the word gets out about your need you will be surprised at the help you will get from your own community.

Also for free gifts for kids that have parents in jail. Contact "Project Angel Tree" on the web for a local chapter, (a Christian organization started by Chuck Colson of Watergate fame)

Check local goodwills etc... For new and gently used items. Sometimes you even come upon brand new items there. Make homemade soaps, as well as homemade bath salts, etc. Become a member of the local freecycle.com,, you will be surprised what you will find. I resently received from my freecycle a Xbox with 5 games for my two boys, they loved it works great and to them its new. I suggest that you start now doing all this as time is flying by and there are lots of people in need these days. Good luck and may God bless all of you.

Hello to all! I am a single mother of 4 children. My oldest son is 11 years old. My daughter is 9, she will be 10 a couple days before christmas. I have a 2 year old son, and a 7 month old son as well. I am not sure how this site works, I am just kinda at my witts end.  I feel like crying because I am not the type to ask for things. I am just in a really tough spot right now. I guess I will just start where my life spiraled out of control. My fiance went to jail for a probation violation. He will be there for a year. I lost my apartment, and now am living with my mother. (I am 30 years old) She helps me out alot. If it was not for her I have no clue what I would do. I have no car. It broke down about 5 months ago. The head gaskets were messed up. I can't find a job close to my home. Child care will kill me for the babies.  I will be able to get a car at tax time, because I worked last year up until I gave birth to my baby. I have no where to turn for christmas help though. I know there are churches that help, but I really don't know how to walk into somewhere and ask for help like that. I do get foodstamps for now, so I am not worried about food for the kids. And the babies get WIc. My mom does not make much money, I mean only enough for the bills, and I am just trying to see if their may be any help out there for me? Please don't be mean to me because I am already going through enough. Thank you so much for reading my story! God Bless. Tiffany

When thinking about Christmas and the gifts we give to our children, we as parents
assume that responsibility. Because of this we should never count on assistance
through any site or group as there is ALWAYS the possibility that no help can
be found. With this being said it is best if parents try to prepare for upcoming
holidays.

Some ideas include:

1) Start now! Call around your community and find the programs. Secret
Santa, Toys for Tots, Local churches or other programs that offer assistance.
Try your local Social Services office for suggestions. Go online and goggle
Christmas assistance + your county, state. The only thing that they can say
is yes, no, or let me connect you with someone that may be able to help.

2) If you are a member of a church find out if they have a program and how to
get involved. You can always help organize one with a few other members
and help not only your own family but others in your church as well.

3) Make a list of your child's needs. On this list include such items as clothing,
shoes, school supplies, diapers etc. (if needed) Then include an item or two
that they wish for. But make sure these items are within the price range that
another person can afford. Many people won't buy their own child a $300
game system even if it is on sale for  $150, so the chance are they won't
for someone else's child either. Share these lists through a wish list program
online or hand them out to friends, family members, and others that exchange
gifts with you.

4) Visit area thrift stores once a week to pick up on the best deals as they come
in. It is amazing what a little soap and water can do for that dolls face. Or a
cycle in the washer will do to that name brand pair of jeans. This brings us to
what we teach our children about used items. If they learn from the start that
there is nothing wrong with these items they will never be ashamed of those
items. Name brand's can be bought at thrift store prices just as well as K-mart
brand.

5) Utilize what you are currently on. The computer! Find games, download them.
Coloring pages, paper dolls, craft items to do together OR to make for presents!
Scrapbooks, recipe books, loving poems from each family member, homemade
gift certificates for cooking lessons, a day without chores, a movie night etc.
the ideas are endless!

6) DO NOT wrap empty boxes to make your tree look full! It will only discourage
the children that they are empty and will make it seem like you are supposed to
get a LOT of presents. Take pride in the few that may be under there!

7) Check Craigslist, Freecycle and more for things that other no longer need. You
will be helping the landfills as well as your family. This can go for gifts for the adults
as well!

8) Read the posts that offer suggestions and use some of them. Come up with an idea
share it. Delete those emails/posts and people in your life that are negative and feel
like Christmas isn't right unless there are 20 different gifts per person under that tree!

9) Don't have the money for a tree? MAKE ONE. Tack up a cut out of a tree. It
can even be from the funny pages of the newspaper! Decorate it with all home
made ornaments, paper chains, popcorn strings and more. They will never
forget that favorite and unique Christmas!

10) Remember most what Christmas is about. Share your beliefs with your children and
most of all share your time and love. Present will be forgotten, but your family memories
will be the fondest.

I found this website by accident a few days ago. There are so many stories of people down on their luck and I was brought to tears reading that so many children would be without presents christmas morning. That broke my heart so I decided that my family and friends presents would go to so many kids who are without. Christmas morning the people I usually buy gifts for will get a letter from me explaining what the money from their present bought, a barbie , hot wheels cars , a football and SO many other gifts. I am so sorry that I couldn't help everyone, I actually went far over my normal christmas budget because I had such a hard time saying no to any child. I did finally have to say no but I hope my message brings hope to many. People do care, I care, I hope and pray for you all but most of all for the little ones.

I signed up earlier today and cant seem to log back in see my first post under Santa's Helper? I have received lots of emails and am happy to say I will be able to help quite a few kids have a christmas this year. I am hoping to help a few more little kids the ones that still believe in santa and would not understand if he didn't come. I wish I could help everyone. So if your little children are in need of christmas and you would like some help please email me at santaslilhelper08@live.com

I would like to help children in need this christmas. I think that Christmas is about the children and it breaks my heart to think of a child without a present from Santa christmas morning. I stumbled upon this website and wish I could help everyone. I am not sure who has been helped and who hasn't since there are so many postings. I want to try and help as many kids as I can. Please email me at santaslilhelper08@live.com if your children are going to be without a gift on christmas morning.

hello, me and my family lost everything in the flood in iowa and are currently in a fema trailer. i was hoping that someone would hear my cry for help in helping our family .we have been down finacially since june. my husband cannot work, i work full time and go to school i have three great kids jaden 10, amee 8, jasmin 5, i would just pray that that we keep our heads up and keep moving forward. my husband will be leaving for a year and it will be twice the struggle for me. but if anyone has any advice on how to apply for a grant without having to pay, or without having to pay for even a book please let me know...... and if anyone would like to donate gift cards to my family walmart, target, kmart, we are still trying to get stuff back that we lost in the flood. thanks for looking god bless.  christycria@yahoo.com

I was wondering if anyone may have some information or ideas on how to recieve help with christmas and winter coats for my children.  I am usually on the giving end of this spectrum, but in november i gave birth to triplets which instantly doubled the number of children we had.  We had to get a larger house for our family to fit into.  And the triplets expenses have been many.  I never realized how expensive things are until i had to buy them in triplicate.  I have to stay at home, i am unable to work due to the fact i broke my neck in two places in an unfortunate car accident.  Im lucky to get around at all.  And at this point, even if i were able to work.  The cost of child care for six children exceeds any amount  i would be qualified to make.  I feel horrible that i cannot give my children what they  deserve to have, my husband works two jobs as it is just to meet our monthly bills.  There is no such thing as extra money in this house.  We litterally live paycheck to paycheck and we don't even have any extras.  Just bare necessities.  The diapers and formula for the babies alone is a huge monthly expense.  We would truly appreciate any help or information that we can get.  God bless all who read this.

Thank you,

mother of many