To help, go to 100neediestcases.org to adopt a family or make an online donation.Case 5: Ms. T is a single mother of five children between ages 1 and 14, and she has had two heart attacks. She finds herself unable to work due to her medical condition, and the recent birth of her son put even more strain on her heart. Temporary jobs have been her solution, but those only last a week or two until she must move on to the next. She’s also set up payment plans with utility companies to keep the utilities going for her family. But despite her best efforts, Ms. T still needs help — her car needs multiple repairs, appliances are failing in the home, and her furnace has stopped working and she needs duct work done. Any help this holiday season would be appreciated: Toys and gifts for her five children — three girls, two boys – for Christmas would be welcomed, along with clothing and uniforms. Ms. T and her family also need household items such as cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and toiletries.
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Case 6: Ms. D has had seizures since her second son was born. He also suffered from seizures in the womb and once he was delivered. Over the years, her son has had special and developmental needs, leading a pediatrician to refer him to physical, occupational and speech therapy. What has helped the now-6-year-old boy most is his brothers, ages 9, 4 and 2. They help their brother do things independently and understand he needs constant repetition and reminders because of his attention span and inability to process information. Ms. D works to juggle her second son’s needs while also making sure his brothers are getting enough attention. Employment is hard to find that doesn’t directly conflict with her son’s many appointments, and the children’s father has never been in their lives. Their grandma has helped, however. The family’s rent is increasing by more than $100, and they are already on a tight budget. Ms. D is hoping for help with household repairs, clothes, appliances, household items, furniture or gift cards. She’d also like to request a toy for each boy, as they play together and look out for each other.
Case 7: Ms. P loves her four grandchildren and has worked hard to care for them. Ranging in age from 14 to 24, she took them in after her daughter was evicted due to financial hardships. But Ms. P’s family has had to readjust, again, after she moved out of state. The four kids and their mom are now living in a shelter. The family is in need of new clothes, school supplies and, of course, food. When staying with Ms. P, the family’s monthly food bill was more than $600 at times. They could use assistance with housing, too.
Case profiles by Jenna Jones
As part of the 100 Neediest Cases campaign, an art contest is held for high school and college students to illustrate 'need'. The art accompanies the stories published in the Post-Dispatch. Donate here. Video by Allie Schallert, aschallert@post-dispatch.com
