Kerri and Her Children Thank You for Caring
During the Christmas season, Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania receives many requests for assistance, often from families that never needed help before. Their needs are varied—warm clothing, a bed, a place to stay, a job . . . or a few toys for their children.
But on one cold December morning, there came a not so typical phone call. It was a young woman named Kerri asking for our help. Her voice was so full of fear and despair that she could not clearly articulate what she was asking for.
After we calmed her down, she shared that she and her two young children had just arrived in Central Pennsylvania with nothing except what they could carry in their car. Fleeing from a domestic abuse relationship, she saved enough money to flee. When the time was right, she gathered her children, a few things, then drove to Harrisburg.
It seems that she was originally from this area, but had relocated to be with her mother and an elderly aunt. Within the past year, after burying both of these remaining family members, she found herself alone to care for her daughters and it was clear, that their present situation was not a safe one.
As our conversation continued, we said we could provide some immediate assistance with clothing and other necessities. Kerri began to cry with relief saying they all had been wearing the same clothing for several days, but could not afford to wash them. Arrangements were made to meet her and her girls at the Volunteers of America thrift store so they could pick up the essential items needed.
A week before Christmas, Kerri called to tell us that she was able, with the help of a local women’s shelter, to find a place to live. She was just calling to thank Volunteers of America for the clothing and other essentials. The good news was that they had a roof over their heads for the time being, the bad news was that they had nothing to put in it.
Even with our extreme shortage of furniture donations, our thrift store manager located a few beds so that they would not have to sleep on the floor, plus some household items.
For the holidays, we connected Kerri and her children with a local merchant that wanted to help a local family in distress. Through toy donations from generous individuals and other needed items supplied through the generosity of the retailer’s employees, her children not only experienced the joy and excitement of Christmas , but also the love and generosity of a community joining together to serve others in time of dire need.