October 8, 2008
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 Right here on Long Island children and families wait in hope. They hope that the paycheck will stretch far enough so the lights will stay on, their children will be able to eat and the rent will get paid. But unfortunately, without help, many of those hopes will go unfulfilled. We are asking you to help us change that by participating in the Newsday Charities Help-A-Family appeal, the only island-wide campaign that unites Long Islanders in the act of giving in this unique way. Newsday Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, counts on compassionate Newsday readers to raise money to help catch people when they fall on hard times. The Foundation will match every dollar raised at a rate of 50 cents. That means your donation of $20 becomes $30; $100 becomes $150 and every dollar makes a tremendous difference in the life of a needy Long Islander. Last year the Help-A-Family campaign raised $478,000 and with the match $717,000 was granted to local non-profit agencies that serve needy children and families during the holidays and throughout the year. Join this important campaign and feel good knowing that 100 percent of your donation, plus the match benefits the people who need it most as Newsday and the Foundation pay all campaign costs. A growing number of children and families are counting on us, so we hope we can count on you. Your generosity can help ensure that a sick child will receive much-need medication, a parent will be able to pay the rent and avoid the threat of homelessness, and a magical gift will brighten the holidays for a needy family.
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The stories featured below are real situations some Long Islanders are facing. |
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Eight years ago, Juan and Anita arrived from Guatemala, escaping crippling poverty. Working as a master mechanic, Juan was paid a modest salary to support his family. The job enabled Juan and Anita to raise their son, Miguel, in the safety of a welcoming Long Island community. Unfortunately, Juan suffered serious health problems this past year and is no longer able to work. The stress has created a heart-breaking situation for the entire family, especially for young Miguel, whose schoolwork has suffered as he worries about his dad. A donation would help the family get back on their feet until Juan is well enough to return to work. Twenty-year-old Mary is raising her three siblings, 8-year-old Sam, 12-year-old Melissa and 15-year-old Jessie on her own. Seven years ago, after her mother lost custody of the kids as a result of severe mental health and substance abuse problems, their aunt stepped in to fill the maternal role. That ended two years ago, when she succumbed to breast cancer. Mary, legal guardian of her brother and sisters, is responsible and hard-working, but struggles to provide them with healthy meals, school supplies, and other necessities. Last year's Christmas was sparse for this courageous family. Won't you help bring a little joy this holiday season with your donation? Last January when their apartment building burned to the ground, Janine and her three young children lost every possession they'd ever owned and were left without clothing, furniture or even family photos. In the months since, the family has drifted from shelter to shelter, finally ending up in a single room in a motel many miles from the children's school. Janine has continued to go to work every day, but the trauma of the fire and living in a motel has created havoc in the children's lives. Once promising students all have seen their schoolwork take a severe turn for the worse, and they can no longer participate in the after-school sports they had enjoyed. A donation would help this family gather enough money to afford a security deposit on a new apartment and start anew. Alan and Felicia are the parents of six children. Their nine-year-old daughter Gabriela has been in the hospital for months waiting for an organ transplant. Her condition is deteriorating. The stress of coping with a sick child is taking a toll on the family. Felicia had to leave her job to be with Gabriela in the hospital. Alan and Felicia are struggling to pay their bills and care for their other children. With the holidays approaching, there is no way these dedicated parents can afford holiday gifts. A donation would lift their spirits and show them that other people do care. Elaine, a single mother of two boys and two girls, is struggling to feed and clothe her children without financial support from their father. Dealing with the special needs of her two youngest sons, both of whom have autism, compounds the family's situation dramatically. Elaine worked two jobs to make ends meet for her family, but she was recently laid off from one of them. Elaine worries that she could lose her children if she can't provide for their basic needs. Your donation would help this hard-working mother support the family she treasures. Two years ago, 12-year-old Kaitlin lost her mother to cancer. Last year after it was discovered that her father was physically abusing her, she was removed from her father's home and placed with a foster family. She has started on the lengthy road to regaining her self-worth, but losing her mother has devastated the young girl. The one positive thing in Kaitlin's life has been her love for gymnastics--a talent her mother nurtured since she was four years old. Kaitlin's foster mother wants to give Kaitlin back her passion, but can't afford the lessons, insurance, outfits and travel expenses associated with competitions. Please help this child fulfill her dreams by donating today. Since their parents' divorce, Timmy, Charlotte and Anna, all under eight years old, have received no financial support from their father. Unable to afford the rent, the three youngsters and their mother, Caroline, were forced to leave their home. Despite Caroline's full-time job working for a retail chain, the family has been in and out of shelters for the past two years. The high cost of housing on Long Island is just too much for this young mother to manage on her small salary. And her job offers no medical benefits, leaving her children at great risk--especially Charlotte, who suffers from severe asthma. Won't you offer your support during this season of giving? Many Long Island families work hard every day to provide a decent life for their families, but still survive paycheck to paycheck. Any loss of income, however temporary, can put them in a dire situation. For Andrea and Peter, parents of a teenage daughter and twin eight-year-old sons, a car accident last July started a chain of events that is threatening to put them out on the streets. Peter's leg was severely broken in the accident, and he has already been through three surgeries. Unable to work, the family is depending on Andrea's part-time income that is not nearly enough to pay their mortgage, heat and other basics. The family is one step away from homelessness. Please help keep this family in their home until Peter can return to work. Jonah, the father of four-year-old J.T., spent much of his adult life addicted to drugs. But the birth of his son changed him forever; he entered a rehab program and has been drug-free ever since. Sadly, Jonah contracted the AIDS virus and is too sick to work. His disability insurance doesn't cover the cost of housing and food for his family. A donation would provide Jonah with the needs to support his family while he battles to regain his health. |
