CASE 76

M stretches his meager income from part-time work by living with relatives. Part of what he brings in goes to child support, leaving him with too little to pay his bills and feed himself. M also helps take care of a son left paralyzed by a shooting and the four children of a diabetic daughter who has to make frequent trips to the hospital. At 47, M himself suffers from high blood pressure. His holidays would be brightened by gifts of food, gift cards, house supplies and a dresser.

CASE 77

For M, it's about the basics. M, 32, is the single mother of 10 children, with an 11th on the way. Mom and the kids are homeless, and they're having a hard time finding a place to live that's safe for them; they are moving around between relatives and friends. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that M's 12-year-old daughter is bipolar and frequently runs away. M hopes to find a permanent home for her family. They'll need furnishings, starting with a queen-size bed, seven twin beds, a table and chairs and a washer and dryer. M would really like to be able to give her children something for Christmas. Bicycles would be a particularly welcome gift.

Profiles by Lisa Eisenhauer and Sarah Bryan Miller of the Post-Dispatch.