February 16, 2009
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 The economy is affecting everyone, but for some it is absolutely devastating. Thousands of children and families right here on Long Island wait in hope that the paycheck will stretch far enough; the heat and lights will stay on; the children will be able to eat; the rent will get paid. But unfortunately, without help, many of those hopes will go unfulfilled. We are asking you to help us change that by participating in the Newsday Charities Help-A-Family appeal, the only island-wide campaign that unites Long Islanders in the act of giving in this unique way. Newsday Charities, a fund of the McCormick Foundation, counts on compassionate Newsday readers to raise money to help catch people when they fall on hard times. The Foundation will match every dollar raised at 50 cents. That means your donation of $20 becomes $30; $100 becomes $150. Every dollar makes a tremendous difference in the lives of those in need here on Long Island during the holidays and throughout the year. Join this important campaign and feel good knowing that 100 percent of your donation, plus the match, benefits the people who need it most as Newsday and the Foundation pay all campaign costs. A growing number of children and families are counting on us, so we hope we can count on you. Your generosity can help ensure that a sick child will receive much-needed medication, a parent will be able to pay the rent and avoid the threat of homelessness, and a magical gift will brighten the holidays for a needy family.
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The stories featured below are real situations some Long Islanders are facing. |
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Susan is an elderly, single woman living on a fixed income. Her son suffers from a serious progressive illness that prevents him from providing for his children. Susan now has the sole responsibility of raising her five grandchildren. She is doing her best to provide them with food and shelter, but her limited income prevents her from meeting all their needs. The children are outgrowing their clothing. A donation would help the family get on their feet. Twenty-year-old Mary is raising her three siblings, 8-year-old Sam, 12-year-old Melissa and 15-year-old Jessie on her own. Seven years ago, after her mother lost custody of the kids as a result of severe mental health and substance abuse problems, their aunt stepped in to fill the maternal role. That ended two years ago, when she succumbed to breast cancer. Mary, legal guardian of her brother and sisters, is responsible and hard-working, but struggles to provide them with healthy meals, school supplies, and other necessities. Last year's Christmas was sparse for this courageous family. Won't you help bring a little joy this holiday season with your donation? Last January when their apartment building burned to the ground, Janine and her three young children lost every possession they'd ever owned and were left without clothing, furniture or even family photos. In the months since, the family has drifted from shelter to shelter, finally ending up in a single room in a motel many miles from the children's school. Janine has continued to go to work every day, but the trauma of the fire and living in a motel has created havoc in the children's lives. Once promising students all have seen their schoolwork take a severe turn for the worse, and they can no longer participate in the after-school sports they had enjoyed. A donation would help this family gather enough money to afford a security deposit on a new apartment and start anew. Liz is living with MS and is not always well enough to care for her two children, ages 12 and 14. Recently, her husband was arrested for DUI and is serving time in prison, leaving the family without a main source of income. The children do odd jobs in the neighborhood to help pay for necessities, but the family is struggling. A donation would lift their spirits and show them that other people do care. Elaine, a single mother of two boys and two girls, is struggling to feed and clothe her children without financial support from their father. Dealing with the special needs of her two youngest sons, both of whom have autism, compounds the family's situation dramatically. Elaine worked two jobs to make ends meet for her family, but she was recently laid off from one of them. Elaine worries that she could lose her children if she can't provide for their basic needs. Your donation would help this hard-working mother support the family she treasures. Two years ago, 12-year-old Kaitlin lost her mother to cancer. Last year after it was discovered that her father was physically abusing her, she was removed from her father's home and placed with a foster family. She has started on the lengthy road to regaining her self-worth, but losing her mother has devastated the young girl. The one positive thing in Kaitlin's life has been her love for gymnastics--a talent her mother nurtured since she was four years old. Kaitlin's foster mother wants to give Kaitlin back her passion, but can't afford the lessons, insurance, outfits and travel expenses associated with competitions. Please help this child fulfill her dreams by donating today. Since their parents' divorce, Timmy, Charlotte and Anna, all under eight years old, have received no financial support from their father. Unable to afford the rent, the three youngsters and their mother, Caroline, were forced to leave their home. Despite Caroline's full-time job working for a retail chain, the family has been in and out of shelters for the past two years. The high cost of housing on Long Island is just too much for this young mother to manage on her small salary. And her job offers no medical benefits, leaving her children at great risk--especially Charlotte, who suffers from severe asthma. Won't you offer your support during this season of giving? Many Long Island families work hard every day to provide a decent life for their families, but still survive paycheck to paycheck. Any loss of income, however temporary, can put them in a dire situation. For Andrea and Peter, parents of a teenage daughter and twin eight-year-old sons, a car accident last July started a chain of events that is threatening to put them out on the streets. Peter's leg was severely broken in the accident, and he has already been through three surgeries. Unable to work, the family is depending on Andrea's part-time income that is not nearly enough to pay their mortgage, heat and other basics. The family is one step away from homelessness. Please help keep this family in their home until Peter can return to work. Jonah, the father of four-year-old J.T., spent much of his adult life addicted to drugs. But the birth of his son changed him forever; he entered a rehab program and has been drug-free ever since. Sadly, Jonah contracted the AIDS virus and is too sick to work. His disability insurance doesn't cover the cost of housing and food for his family. A donation would provide Jonah with the needs to support his family while he battles to regain his health. |
