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Rochester single mom thankful for holiday assistance

Beaver County Times - 12/1/2019

Dec. 1--Her life has improved dramatically.

A recovering drug addict clean two years, she now counsels others in addiction recovery.

The 30-year-old, single mother lives in Rochester.

Though she works, she basically lives paycheck to paycheck -- one that doesn't always cover the extras for her three children, especially at Christmas.

"I would be able to get them a few things, but it wouldn't be as nice of a Christmas for them if it wasn't for Give-a-Christmas," she said.

The annual fundraising campaign is a long-running partnership between The Times and Salvation Army to help local families in Beaver County who face financial hardship during the holidays.

Give-a-Christmas relies on donations from area residents to assist their neighbors.

Those who apply for help receive food for a holiday meal, clothing and gifts for children.

The Rochester woman's two boys are 5 and 3. The youngest son was diagnosed with autism. Her daughter is 2.

At Christmastime, "they get super excited," she said, but "they're still at that really young age where it doesn't matter how many presents are under the tree...They're just super grateful for everything they received."

They're not "picky," either, she said.

"You could go to the dollar store and buy them just a little, couple-dollar toy and it means so much to them."

Like any mother, however, she wants to give more.

Her oldest loves sports.

"He saw a play bow and arrow that he said he really wanted," she said. And a piggy bank.

Ever since attending parades and football games, her middle child is infatuated with drums.

"He got to see people marching and playing the drums. He just really took to that...He'll drum on anything. He loves music. He'll pick up a little container and a pencil and just walk around the house marching and drumming on stuff. He has a pretty good beat, too."

The youngest loves baby dolls.

"She likes to feed them and hold them and rock them," Mom said. "She loves to pretend to cook" in her little kitchen.

Regardless of one's background or history, the Rochester woman said as long as "you're doing the next right thing" the Salvation Army is "willing to help you and continue to help you...They're just very giving people. They just want to make sure if they have something to give, they're going to always give it."

And for that, she's thankful.

"Each and every, single one of us appreciates everything they have given out. It makes not only our day, but our children's day. It's a blessing to be able to see the smile on our kids' faces, even the smile on our faces whenever people come together and are willing to help anyone in need," she said.

Come together, Beaver County. You can be a blessing and put smiles on the faces of your neighbors in need.

The Salvation Army's goal is to raise $55,000 by Christmas to bring joy to those who've applied for assistance.

To give, make checks payable to Salvation Army Give-a-Christmas and mail to: Salvation Army, PO Box 600, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.

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(c)2019 the Beaver County Times (Beaver, Pa.)

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