Rescuing Christmas for a Loving Grandmother
Patricia calls her 5-year-old granddaughter, August, a “very creative, innovative kid.” She’s been creating buildings out of blocks and other toys since she was 3. When Christmas rolls around, Patricia knows she needs to get August gifts to help foster that budding creativity.
Unfortunately, Patricia usually can’t afford Christmas gifts. She’s 65, currently between jobs, and this year dealing with COVID-19. The problem is that when Patricia can’t afford Christmas gifts for August, that means she doesn’t receive any – because Patricia has been raising her granddaughter for most of the girl’s life, serving as her legal guardian since August was 18 months.
“This is just the way the Lord set it up,” Patricia said. And while she was happy to take her granddaughter in five years ago, she didn’t have the resources to raise a new baby.
While Patricia lives in a decent area, the nearby playground isn't safe because people drink in and around it. So when she and her granddaughter want to play outside, they have to take public transportation to another area, which costs money and isn’t a great option during the pandemic.
Thankfully, Patricia was familiar with all the ways The Salvation Army could help. She reached out to the Chicago Temple Corps Community Center, where she received food, housing assistance, toys, baby furniture, and help with daycare.
“The help from The Salvation Army means a lot,” Patricia said. “It meant I didn’t have to worry about things we really needed, things we still need.”
For the past several years Patricia has signed up for the Angel Tree program, which provides gifts for children who otherwise would go without. “August wouldn’t have had hardly anything to open on Christmas without this help,” she said. “I’m so grateful.”
“The Salvation Army is a place to go get help without any hassle. It’s a really positive resource.”
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For tax purposes: The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division EIN is 36-2167910.