Local families in need for holidays

SIKESTON -- December has arrived, bringing with it Christmas pageants, holiday music and family gatherings.

The spirit of the holidays has reached many but there are families in the area who are in need of assistance to have a nice Christmas. Many people have already donated time and money to the Community Christmas Campaign but more help is needed to make sure as many families as possible have a festive Christmas.

With their mother out of work, this year does not look like it will be a happy Christmas for these four children. Their mom isn't giving up, looking for work every day but so far is has been to no avail. However, through the Community Christmas Campaign, this family can have a nice Christmas.

The boys, ages 9 and 12 wear youth medium and adult small clothes and would love to have a new jacket for Christmas. The girls, ages 8 and 13 wear youth medium and adult small and would love to have a new dress to wear.

The mother didn't ask for anything, but some food to fill the cabinets through the holidays would be welcomed.

Raising three children is a difficult task, and this woman does it alone with money only from temporary assistance and social security. The amount of money she receives barely pays the bills and she is afraid she will have no money for Christmas this year.

With the Community Christmas Campaign though she might be able to give the children a nice Christmas meal, as well as a toy and some warm clothes.

The children include one boy, 11, who wears a youth extra-large; and two girls, 14 and 12 who both wear youth large clothes.

The mother could also use some common household items to help her through the winter months.

For many years this elderly woman worked hard to help pay the bills and put food on the table, but after her husband died she was left with only a small social security check each month.

Christmas is a lonely season for her and she would appreciate some food for Christmas with extra to last her into the new year. A warm blanket would also be nice to cover up with while she watches the news in the evening.

This mother and father work hard but still make very little in wages and the money they get from social security and temporary assistance will not be enough to buy Christmas presents for their two children.

The parents said their children could use some house shoes and some pajamas. Their son, age 4, wears a child size 6 and 12 1/2 shoes and their daughter, age 3, wears a child size 4 and size 8 shoes. A nice toy for each would also brighten their Christmas.

The parents could use some jeans and house shoes. The father wears 34 x 32 pants and size 11 shoes and the mother wears size 16 tall jeans and a size 10 shoe.

Raising two boys, this woman does the best she can with only a small temporary assistance check each month. The money is not enough to get her children some necessary items like shoes and she has come to the Community Christmas Campaign for help.

Her boys, age 3 and 1 wear size and 8 and 5 shoes and could use some new sneakers. They could also use a new toy. The family could also use some food to last them through the Christmas season.

Those who would like to help with the Community Christmas Campaign can call the Standard Democrat office during business hours at 471-1137. Donations can be left at the office located at 205 S. New Madrid.

Names of those to receive a Christmas basket are referred to by area organizations and applications are not accepted at the Standard Democrat.