A family was evicted weeks before Christmas because they didn’t know where their next home would be.
One woman was laid off from her job, but cared for several grandchildren because their mother was in prison.
Disability and a cancer diagnosis left a couple unable to do regular work after gaining custody of three grandchildren.
These terrible conditions threatened the livelihoods and daily safety of these South Texas families – real stories I covered as part of the Caller-Times Children’s Christmas Appeal.
But here’s one of the moments that stood out in my reporting: A girl, 13 at the time, wasn’t just wondering where her family would live after being forced to find a new home. She also had passions and dreams that she could not fully realize because her family did not have the money.
Life is not just about meeting basic needs. Everyone, no matter the circumstances, deserves to have fun, she told me.
This is where the Christmas Call comes into play.
Since 1973, the Caller-Times has reported on the struggles of needy children and their families during the holidays. All money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign benefits the children as all overhead costs are covered by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend and participating agencies.
Now in its 51st year, the fundraiser began in 1973. We partner with United Way of the Coastal Bend and a range of nonprofits and local government agencies. The nonprofits and agencies provide us with candidates for Caller-Times articles from a pool of clients who agree to participate.
The families, whose real names we are not publishing, share their stories, their challenges and their hopes. We will begin publishing these articles after Thanksgiving.
All money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign will benefit children, allowing families in need to purchase Christmas gifts they would otherwise not be able to afford. All overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend and participating agencies.
We are grateful to the families who welcomed Caller-Times reporters into their homes and courageously shared their stories. We are also grateful for every dollar this campaign has raised.
But we need your help.
Charitable donations to the Christmas Appeal are down in 2022 and 2023, according to Caller-Times articles. Last year, donations fell 3% to a total of $56,235. In 2022, the decline was greater than the year before: 31%.
We hope to reverse that trend. For families dealing with illness, job loss or the death of loved ones – and often a combination of these – the holidays are a challenging time that we hope to make a little better.
We hope you will join us in our work with participating agencies: Boys & Girls Club of Alice, Duval County Christmas Committee, the Kleberg County Welfare Department, Corpus Christi Hope House, the Odyssey After School Enrichment Program in Rockport, Sinton for Youth Inc and the Purple Door.
The fundraiser is now open and the last day to donate is Christmas Eve.
Here’s how you can help:
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Text ChristmasAppeal (no spaces) to 41444.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Caller-Times Children’s Christmas Appeal fundraiser enters 51st year
