CASE 96
Ms. A fled from an abusive husband who also abused her two oldest daughters, 10 and 11. The mother, 29, receives no financial assistance from the father of three of her four daughters, one of whom has autism; another has attention deficit disorder. The oldest of the girls suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Ms. A volunteers at their school once to twice a week and is the leader for their Girl Scout troop. The family is seeking gift cards to Target, Lowe's and Shop 'n Save, as well as toys and clothing for the children, ages 4, 7, 10 and 11.
CASE 97
The bad economy has worked against Mr. N, 49, who hasn't been able to find a job. He is a single father raising a 9-year-old son. Occasionally, he finds odd jobs that help him pay for clothing. With income of $292 and rent of $275, times are tough even with help from food stamps. For Christmas, Mr. N's son wants educational toys. Mr. N wants to see his son smile. He desperately wants a winter coat and winter clothes for his child. They also need shoes, school supplies, school uniforms and household items, including bed linens, dishes, towels and toiletries.
Profiles by Christine Byers and Jean Buchanan of the Post-Dispatch.
