Nov. 29—LIMA — A Lima woman trying to give her two young sons a Merry Christmas is finding that a difficult goal this year.
Sarah, 26, a single mother, is out of work after the temporary transportation services period from the Allen County Job and Family Services Agency expired earlier this year. Sarah, who has never had a driver’s license, was forced to abandon driver training due to the costs when she could no longer travel to and from her previous job. Without reliable transport, driver training seemed like an unnecessary expense at the time.
As the holidays approach, a modest lighted tree was placed in the family’s apartment the week before Thanksgiving, but currently there are no presents under it. Sarah hopes this can change.
Sarah and her children live in a government-subsidized apartment complex on the north side of Lima. Last year she worked at a McDonald’s restaurant, but unfortunately it wasn’t the restaurant within walking distance of her home. Instead, it was a location on the Harding Highway, several miles away. Transportation assistance that Sarah once received became scarce after her mother started working full-time.
The lack of work has made life difficult for Sarah, but her struggle actually began when her eldest son’s father died almost four years ago in what police have classified as a murder-suicide.
“We will never know what really happened because two of the three people involved are gone,” Sarah said.
Sarah and her son’s father lived together for a while but eventually separated “when he laid his hands on me” during a domestic disturbance. She lived in a women’s shelter for several months, followed by a short period with her mother. She has been alone for two years now, doing odd jobs as a babysitter and occasionally helping her mother clean out houses to earn money. She would like a more permanent income – anything from retail to fast food or factory work is fine – but caring for two-year-old son Seth is currently a full-time commitment and childcare is unaffordable. Her oldest son Joseph goes to preschool every day and transportation is provided by the West Ohio Community Action Partnership, or WOCAP.
“I’ve had a hard time this year,” Sarah admits. “It’s been hard to keep the kids happy. I mean, they’re generally pretty happy, but it hurts when they see other kids with things they shouldn’t have. It would mean a lot to them if we could get help of the community.”
Joseph wears size 6 shirts, size 5T pants and size 1 shoes. Seth is a 3T/4T in shirts and pants and wears size 10 baby shoes. Joseph likes Monsters Inc., trucks and dinosaurs, while Seth loves balls, bears and SpongeBob SquarePants. Both boys love books and Sarah enjoys reading them.
Sarah herself could use some snow boots, size 9-10 wide, and always needs household items such as pots, pans, pillows, cutlery and cleaning supplies.
Adopt a stocking
The Adopt a Stocking Fund benefits families during the holidays. Monetary donations can be given online at give.salvationarmy.org/stocking or through Adopt A Stocking; c/o The Salvation Army; PO Box 234, Lima, OH 45801. All material donations for a specific family should be dropped off at The Salvation Army, 614 E. Market St., Lima, and must include a copy of the article or date the story appeared in The Lima News. View previous stories at LimaOhio.com/tag/stocking.
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