Life throws all sorts of curve balls at you. However, few things can be worse than seeing events conspire to throw your family into turmoil.

This Lynn family knows what that’s all about. Dad’s hours have been cut at work, meaning there’s less money coming into the family. That means mom will have to work harder to make up the difference. Her job will take her away from the family for a while — making things more difficult to manage.

Now, here comes the kicker: Mom is also going to be joining the military, and will be away from her two small children for a long time. And her absence will be felt.

“I hope to spend the holidays with her, but she will have to leave for a while to help our family,” one of the children wrote in a letter to Item Santa. 

Even before this, things haven’t been easy for this family.

“Mom and dad do the best they can, even though Dad has had a reduction in hours at work,” the child said in the letter.

That’ll put more pressure on Dad, who, his child says, “will be our strong, caring one to take care of us until Mommy comes home.”

This situation just reinforces the reality that many people who count on help from Item Santa aren’t in abject poverty. Moms and dads work, and have to run faster and faster just to stay where they are. 

Because there’s less money coming in and one spouse has to fulfill military obligations, there are some serious choices that have to be made. And perhaps, without your help, Christmas will have to take the hit.

We ask you to think of this family and others like it, and donate to the Item Santa Fund. When all is said and done, you will have a warm inner feeling with the knowledge that your generosity helped this struggling family make Christmas that much brighter for these children. 

Now in its 57th year, the Item Santa fund helps to make Christmas brighter for the needy. To donate, clip the coupon in The Item and mail it, along with your check, to The Item Salvation Army Santa, PO Box 5, Lynn, MA 01903. 

The coupon can also be found online at this link: https://itemlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/page.pdf

All donations are listed in Item print editions through the month of December and into 2024, along with a brief message from each donor, if desired.

NOTE: The application period for aid from Item Santa has closed and The Item does not process applicants. All questions about the program and distribution of gifts should be directed to the Salvation Army at 781-598-0673.