Gifts of the Magi

It’s been easy for most of us to open our hearts and wallets to victims of the tragic natural disasters that have been heaped one upon the other in the past year: tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods. Catholics of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati have been particularly generous to their brothers and sisters throughout the U.S. and the world.

The realization that so many of our fellow citizens had lost everything in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita brought us up short. Here were images from New Orleans of a kind of poverty that most people never really witness.

Sadly, however, such poverty exists right here in Ohio — in Adams and Brown counties, in Butler and Miami, and in inner-city areas of Dayton and Cincinnati. In our own communities, families live paycheck-to-paycheck, without insurance, without savings, without resources. One crisis of health, employment or disrepair can make their living situation precarious. We don’t have to go to New Orleans or to Third World nations to find the poor. They are right here among us.

It’s been 12 years since The Catholic Telegraph joined with Catholic Social Services of the Southwestern Ohio and the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul to begin "Gifts of the Magi," a program to help those in need — particularly at the holiday season. We envisioned helping families make holiday purchases, or pay higher-than-normal heating bills. But far more basic needs were shared with us, and these continue to be presented on a daily basis.

The emphasis in the Gifts of the Magi campaign is upon using money to help individuals and families bring about long-term change – not simply a quick fix. Follow-up with gift recipients is conducted by CSS in an effort to insure that the money has been properly used and has made a difference for the recipient.

Schools and parishes have adopted Magi needs, in some cases raising the entire sum requested for a family or individual. We thank such support and ask that you consider renewing that effort for Christmas 2005.

We are asking people to reach more deeply into their pockets than they have before, particularly since we know our readers have already given so generously to those in need. But as local food pantries and charities start the winter with already scant resources, we must continue to ask our readers to be act as Magi once again.

A homeless family of five struggles to make ends meet on dad’s job, which pays $1,000 a month. Dad bicycles to work; the family has no car or phone. Mom is looking for employment, and the children, ages 11, 10 and 7 are coping with learning disabilities. They are in need of money for a down payment on housing. $700, or 10 gifts of $70, will give them a roof over their heads this winter.

This couple, with custody of their two young grandchildren, faced a crisis when the husband lost his job. Unexpected car repairs were necessary as well, leaving the family behind in two mortgage payments. They are not slowly returning to stability, with grandma’s salary paying the bills, but $729 is necessary to help the family cover those two lost months or they could lose their home.

This young single woman is seven months pregnant, and her doctor has ordered her to bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. She has an adoption plan in place but has no means to pay her rent until she returns to work after her baby is born. Her rent on a tiny apartment is $285 monthly and her utilities are another $90. The Pregnancy Problem Center has contributed one month’s rent, but she still needs to pay her utilities and the other month’s rent. Please consider a donation toward the $465 needed by this woman during such a stressful time in her life.

This eight-person extended family whose members have a variety of health problems was told six years ago to stop using their old furnace and to get a new one for their mobile home. In that time, they have been financially unable to do so or to locate funding sources for help. They are also in need of a new water heater. The total sum sought for this project is $3,416.

This single mother of three children is in need of $1,443 to repair her car. Her minimal income is already stretched to cover her other expenses. She is trying to continue her college education to enable her to obtain a job, and her family helps when they can, but the car is necessary for her to commute to school in an area where no public transportation is available. Ten gifts of $145 would cover this need.

This family of five is in difficult straits since the father lost his job and the mother got sick. They have gotten behind in paying bills and owe two months’ rent for the first time in more than a decade. Dad recently found work, but the family is still catching up. $1298 is needed to help them over this temporary hurdle. Ten gifts of $130 would help them stabilize.

A mother of nine children never had the opportunity to learn to drive, and until this year, she was able to walk to work. Now, however, her employer has relocated to an area not reached by public transportation. Mom has worked hard for two years to support her children and needs the job to continue to do so. A used car and one-year’s insurance have been donated by a church group, but $275 is needed for driving lessons.

Parents of a chronically ill 7-year-old recently lost their 2-year-old son, who was hit by a car. His organs were donated to assist other persons in need. Funeral expenses for the child came to $5,000, and the family, which lives on a fixed income, had no life insurance. Any extra monies the family has have been needed for gas to get to their daughter’s regular medical appointments. 50 gifts of $100 are needed to help this family pay off this sad debt.

This rural family had the opportunity to purchase a tiny house with a manageable monthly payment rather than continue to pay rent. They used all of their savings for the down payment. They have no health insurance and are not eligible for such assistance as food stamps. The furnace in this home is irreparable and winter is fast approaching. The cost of installing a new furnace is $1,600 – well beyond their means. Won’t you help this family, which is trying so hard to be self-sufficient?

A single mother of four youngsters ages 1 to 12 has a very basic need: a new septic system. If she does not replace it, her house will be condemned and her family will be left homeless. She has saved more than three-fourths of the cost, cannot earn the final $2,500 in time to meet the inspection deadlines. Can you help?

This single mother of four was assaulted last year at work by a client and left her job due to subsequent safety concerns. After a period of unemployment, she has found work, but surgery that was required and a lack of income temporarily left her with past and current bills piling up, and she receives no child support for her youngsters, ages 10-16. She is looking for working hard to pay her creditors, but an outstanding $1,500 has put enormous pressure on her. Ten gifts of $150 would ease her burden.

Two years ago, this woman was diagnosed with diabetes and subsequently missed a lot of work. Late with her Cinergy bill, she was put on a payment plan, which she stuck to until getting sick again last winter. She has since been diagnosed with cancer and lost her job entirely. This lady cannot survive without her insulin, which must be kept refrigerated, so she needs to pay off her debt to the energy company, which has risen quite high. Gifts of the Magi would like to pay $1,000 of this bill. Can you help?

Feeding a growing 16-year-old is a challenge for any family, but particularly for this grandmother with custody of her grandson. Her stove is irreparably broken, and taking care of the young man has become a challenge when it comes to preparing healthy foods. $349 will meet this one-time need.

This single mother of five just moved her family into new housing, but is in need of a stove and refrigerator for the apartment. The $495 these would cost is well beyond her current means, but both items are clearly necessary in order for her to feed her children, ages 9-17. Ten gifts of $50 will help this family.

This family with five children lost their home and all possessions in a fire. They moved into a new home where the rent was discounted in exchange for extensive repair work needed on the property. Dad works, but his income is not sufficient to purchase two much-needed appliances, a stove and refrigerator. They have found scratch-and-dent models that still cost $538. Ten gifts of $54 would enable this purchase.

This young college student lost both her parents last year. She put her education on hold in order to pay off debts and is working part time, but has returned to her nursing studies. In order to continue them, she needs a used car to commute to school. She wants to earn her degree in order to get a good job and obtain custody of her younger sister, who is in foster care. $2,000-$3,000 is necessary for a reliable used car. She has no one left to help her. Can you help?

This gentleman came to the United States several years ago and has been not only self-sufficient, but also able to send funds to family in his native country, which is suffering from serious political strife. In addition, he works hard to help other political refugees settle into their new land. Now, he has an opportunity to bring his wife to the United States, but funds for their two children’s airfare are impossible for him to manage at this time. $3,000 is required to reunite this family after years apart.

Health insurance has become a luxury for far too many Americans. This woman fell behind on her regular bills in order to pay for necessary medical prescriptions. She has been approved to move into handicapped accessible housing but cannot move until her back rent is paid up. $550 will give her a fresh start and an easier life.

Sister and mother: This young lady was given custody of three siblings ranging in age from 2 to 14 when her mother was incarcerated. St. Vincent de Paul has helped with housing, clothing and Christmas items, but this restructured family needs a stove and refrigerator desperately. $629 will ease some of this young woman’s responsibilities and worries.

This senior citizen is suffering from health problems, but wants desperately to stay in her own home. In order to do so, her bathroom must be made handicapped accessible. The costs of supplies and a worker to undertake this project is $761, which is beyond her current means. Ten gifts of $76 would allow her to keep her independence.

A single mother of four young children needs a new water tap and meter for her rural home; currently there is no water going into her residence. It will take $1,300 to install these necessary items, and she is without the means to earn or borrow the money. Caring for a family of five without fresh water is unimaginable to most of us, yet she has been doing so. Can you help her?

A woman with custody of her five-year-old grandson discovered that her old gas stove was leaking — a highly dangerous situation. Since the home did not have a proper shut-off valve, her gas was turned off entirely by the power company, and she was unable to cook or heat her home. A new stove with the appropriate shut off valve is required so that her heating may also be restored. $249, or 10 gifts of $15, will enable this lady to care for her grandson and herself this winter.

This very young couple has a baby and another on the way. They were able to move into a mobile home of their own, but discovered soon afterwards that the structure’s walls and flooring were rotted. They are willing to do the repairs themselves but the necessary drywall, paneling and other supplies are beyond their current means. $400 would cover this project and allow these young people a comfortable home for their family.

As the winter months loom, this single mother learned that the wood stove she currently relies upon to heat her home exacerbates her young daughter’s asthma. A new propane furnace is required in order to provide a healthy environment. Mom has raised $250 toward this major purchase, but the remaining $2,350 is impossible for her to handle. She would be most grateful for any assistance you might offer her and her youngster.

Mail your contribution and checks made payable to: Catholic Social Services of Southwestern Ohio, 100 E. 8th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202; Attention: Gifts of the Magi