I am a single mom with 4 kids and I am in need of some help. Where can I find help? I've emailed churches and police stations and they can't help me. Any suggestions?
By Danielle from Newmarket, NH
Have you applied at your local charities, like the Salvation Army? It's best to apply in person if your able to get out. Good luck and God bless. (11/06/2010)
By Keeper
First, forget using email for your request. Going in person makes a better impression to get your needs taken care of. Second, try all of the churches again. Also, there are Catholic Charities and Salvation Army charities. These you should be able to find in the yellow pages. Also in the yellow pages look under Charitable and Service Organizations. In my town there are about 10 listed. Check out the Habitat for Humanity. You could also plead your case at your local town hall and at your State House. (11/06/2010)
By Deanj
Almost all areas have the Toys For Tots program. Sometimes radio and TV stations have their own drives to get gifts for needy families. It is a little early to start advertising these things. Here in South Dakota they don't start until after Thanksgiving. There are numerous places that do things like that. You just have to keep your eyes and ears open.
In the city where I live after Thanksgiving they have what they call the Christmas Clearing House, where people can apply for Christmas help. However, the demand is so large that not everybody receives help. A lot of the places that offer help, you have to have a way to go and pick up the stuff. When I was a kid there were four kids in my family and we were really hard up, but my parents always managed to have one gift for each of us without any help.
Depending on the age of your kids, maybe you could make them a rag doll, stuffed animal, or item of clothing. My opinion of asking for Christmas help, is it is the same as putting a sign up in the town square or whatever it is called and letting your kids friends know how hard up you are. I am 70 years old and I know what hard up is from when I was a kid. (11/06/2010)
By Joan
Danielle, if you Google: Newmarket, NH charities you'll find some listed in your area. Hope you find help in your area. My kids are older now with kids of their own. To this day they'll tell you their best Christmas was back in the the late 60s. I was a single working mom and we bought a Charlie Brown tree, made all the decorations and made our gifts to each other. Again, best wishes. (11/06/2010)
By Keeper
When I worked on 2 different military installations, every year they did a huge Christmas party for needy families. It was amazing what they did for the entire family. They gave food, clothing, toys, and personal items worth hundreds of dollars for the families. You should contact any military installation in your local area if there is one and ask if they have a party like this. You should also check your local food bank. Ours not only has food to give, but they have clothing, toys, and household items they give out.
When my kids were small and I was a single mom I had a toy party. I got friends and family to buy enough that I got toys for free for my kids. My last money was used to buy the most pathetic looking artificial tree and dollar store ornaments. It ended up being a good holiday despite not having money. One last thing to do is volunteer your time during the holiday season and teach your children the gift of giving. (11/06/2010)
By jill
Other than going to your local churches, etc. I would suggest that since you have a computer that you go online to a site like freestufftimes and get all the free stuff for kids you can for stocking stuffers, (also FreakyFreddies). They have beauty supplies, t-shirts, hats, coloring books, CDs, and much more free.
Pick up a turkey while they are so cheap over the holidays, my hubby just got one free with $25 of groceries and we gave it to an elderly neighbor. (11/06/2010)
By pam munro
A couple thoughts:
Good luck! (11/06/2010)
By Liz
Catholic Family Services! I became disabled the April before last and called them to see if there were any volunteers in my area to help me clean my apartment. Not only have I a wonderful volunteer that comes and helps me clean since then, but also last Christmas I received a phone call from another volunteer asking what I could use and really wanted for Christmas. I told them a pair of slippers and a new toy for my Rachel kitty.
By Deeli
If you are supporting a charity faithfully and truly believe in helping people, why would you ask that people stop sending them there? How about no one go there at all and all the support can go to another place of hope? It isn't our job to wish so many people would stop coming. It is our job to pray and help so that they don't have to keep coming!
I don't use any charities and I should. I am a single mother, work full time and still we struggle to ever have anything. We have exactly what we need nothing more. I would still gladly give up my plate of food for someone else that was hungry. If I did that more than once a week, I wouldn't be mad that the people were finding me. I would be thanking God for even having the the plate of food to give. (11/27/2010)
By lala913
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