While many local families in need receive gifts of clothing or toys from a parish giving tree, many still need help to meet more direct financial needs, such as food, prescription costs, rent and utilities. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.

1. 34 year old mother, pregnant with her fourth child has been diagnosed with cancer. She has lost her job and her healthcare. Family picks up food twice a month from the food pantry and is receiving help with gas cards and financial help from the parish.
   
   
2. Husband had surgery 3 days ago. His wife has heart problems and is unable to work. They are surviving on donations from neighbors and food from the parish
   
   
3. Parents are very ill. They are in need of assistance to help cover the cost of their many medications.
   
   
4. Father of four children currently does not have beds, a table, or chairs. The house is almost empty.
   
   
5. Active parishioner has suffered from Lupus for several years. She is on disability but the medication costs more than the money she receives. She is also behind on her utility bills.
   
   
   
   
6. Single mother of 5 children under 9 years old has moved from one rental to another due to foreclosure. She is now working in a low paying job but needs help with car repair bills, clothing for winter, a mattress for a bunk bed and school supplies for the children.
   
   
7. Mother of eight children who was homeless for a period of time is still working with Social Services to regain custody of all of her children. She needs a job, help with rent, transportation, and utility bills. This Christmas will be very glum for her family.
   
   
8. Mother of three children has been abandoned by her abusive husband. Her infant child suffers from frequent seizures. Medical expenses have drained all available finances and ability to care for the children. A helping father died.
   
   
9. Grandmother lost her husband recently. Both had struggled with poverty for years. She is raising two grandchildren whose parents are both deceased. She tries to work but is hampered by an on-going illness, making a permanent job unlikely.
   
   
10. A veteran and victim of traumatic shock from military action was diagnosed unemployable because of his trauma. He has suffered a stroke and is physically and emotionally debilitated. He survives on a very small pension and lives in near to slum living conditions.
    
    
    
    
11. Mother struggles with poverty after being abandoned by her husband many years ago, and was left with several children to raise. She has managed to remain close to her church, her Senior Center and her children. She is now helping raise grandchildren.
    
    
12. A mother lost her job and now she and her son are presently living with a friend. She has overcome much adversity and is a hard working and caring parent. She is currently working in a low paying job and is saving to rent her own apartment.
    
    
13. A single parent, father of three recently lost his job and his home. They are living with his parents. He looks for work each day and hopes to some day live alone with his children again.
    
    
14. Mother and her two daughters are victims of a domestic violence situation. They were forced to move from their home and are now living with a relative. She is struggling financially to meet daily living expenses and is also trying to save for a security deposit so she and the girls can live alone.
    
    
15. Single mom lost her job because her work can be done more cheaply in China. She is doing her best to raise her daughter but they are having a difficult time.
    
    
    
    
16. Single mother of 4 children under the age of 9 is trying to complete her education. She recently lost her job due to a reduction in the work force. She has had to move from the house she was renting due to foreclosure. She qualifies for section 8 housing and receives food stamps. She has asked for help with a bill that she is behind on
    
    
17. Mother is struggling to raise her 2 sons. She is unable to find work. Child support is minimal as the son's father has just lost his job. One son broke his arm, which required surgery and physical therapy. They do not have health insurance.
    
    
18. Couple has 13 children; 8 of the children still live at home. During the summer the father was seriously injured and has not been able to return to work. Help with food and Christmas gifts is needed.
    
    
19. A disabled woman is in need of kitchen appliances. Because of health issues she is without financial support. She would like to be able to send a gift to her ailing mother who lives in another state.
    
    
    
    
20. A 60 year old single mother/grandmother is disabled. She has medical expenses and a 25 year old car in need of multiple repairs. Repairing her car will give her basic transportation for medical appointments and volunteering.
    
    
21. Young man is faced with many challenges in his life. His mother recently passed away suddenly. He moved from another state to live with relatives. He is in need of clothing, furniture and would like to share Christmas gifts with his new family.
    
    
22. 84 year old mother/grandmother lives on a fixed income. She is in need of car repairs to get her to and from her medical appointments. She is also in need of a refrigerator.
    
    
23. Husband and wife in their late 60's, only income is their Social Security. After paying their management payment, utilities, food, medical bills and gas for their car, there is not much left.
    
    
24. Mother and father of two school age children; mother works part time and attends night school after losing her job in the auto industry. The father has a job and works overtime when he can.
    
    
25. Mother of 3 children under the age of 8 has been out of work since spring. She is taking care of her adult mentally handicapped brother and gave up a baby for adoption a few weeks ago.
    
    
    
    
26. Wife in her late thirties is on disability from work. Her husband works at a minimum wage job. They have 4 children under the age of 20. They are behind on their rent and fear eviction. The kids need clothes, shoes, and boots. They also need help with food.
    
    
27. Wife was laid off from work. Her husband works making minimum wage. They have 3 children. One child is Bipolar and the other two children are asthmatic along with the mother. They need help with medical bills, utilities, winter coats and boots for all of the children.
    
    
28. Woman in her early forties in unemployed. Her husband is unemployed, and recently left her with 7 children between the ages of 4 and 21 years of age. She needs help with utilities and a house payment. The children need clothes and Christmas gifts. Our church helps them with food.
    
    
29. Wife is unemployed, her husband was incarcerated. They have two children. They are in need of beds for the girls and help with utilities. The church helps them with food, but they could use help with restocking their pantry. Children need winter clothing.
    
    
30. Single mother of 2 is unemployed. She lost her job of 15 years due to cut backs. She currently receives help from St. Vincent de Paul and receives food from our pantry monthly.
    
    
    
    
31. Couple with a 10 year old child has recently lost their jobs. Both have been actively looking for employment. They are being helped by St. Vincent de Paul and receive food from our pantry.
    
    
32. Couple has been struggling for the past year since the husband suffered a heart attack and has been unable to work. Wife works part-time and has been looking for full-time work. They have 2 sons, one of which is disabled and is in need of constant care. They are receiving help from St. Vincent de Paul and receive food monthly from our pantry.
    
    
33. A gentleman lost his job and has been struggling financially ever since. He is currently receiving help from both the St. Vincent de Paul and our parish food pantry. He has used up his unemployment and does odd jobs to help make ends meet.
    
    
34. A parish family, and members of the Vietnamese community, have two school aged children. The father has lost his job and is actively seeking employment. His wife takes care of her elderly sick mother. This family is very proud and only occasionally receives food from our parish pantry.
    
    
35. Woman plagued with health problems, currently lives with her sister. Both are widows. They struggle to keep their home and pay for medical and prescription bills. Health and weather permitting, both volunteer at our parish which provides hand-made items to un-wed mothers.
    
    
    
    
36. A single mother of a college-age child is employed in a low-paying job. Her expenses exceed her income even with some help from her child. She struggles to make ends meet and receives food from the parish pantry.
    
    
37. Divorced father of a 4 year old child is presently out of work. He currently works part-time but struggles to meet his child support and other financial obligations. He is highly skilled, clean-living and actively seeking work.
    
    
38. A woman with her 2 ½ year old child and her life partner recently moved to Michigan to care for her adopted mother who was dying. Her mother died this past fall, and she is now trying to keep 5 of the 7 adopted children together by adopting them. Her 22 year old adopted brother has cerebral palsy. Her life partner lost his job and there is no money to pay for rent. They are expecting an adoption subsidy at some point, and food stamps, but could use help now.
    
    
39. Mother found herself in an abusive relationship that also affected her 5 children. She left her job and moved north where they reside in temporary housing at an extended stay hotel. She now works part-time as a secretary. When she contacted St. Vincent de Paul for help she only asked for clothing for her children and nothing for herself.
    
    
40. Grandmother is suffering from an aneurysm and is wheelchair bound. She has been given custody of her 2 grandchildren. She is still waiting for aid for the children and has asked for our help to give them a Christmas.
    
    
    
    
41. A faith-filled family of 7 who are raising 5 children with minimal paying jobs. Father works weekend jobs to help pay their medical bills due to a lack of medical insurance. Any help would provide relief to catch up on bills and food for their children.
    
    
42. Family of 5 is struggling to make ends meet. Father is under-employed and hasn't received a raise in 6 years. The mother volunteers at the parish and is a stay at home mom. Two family members suffer from asthma with monthly medical bills have put a strain on their finances.
    
    
43. A single mother is recovering from breast cancer surgery. She has been notified that her company will close at the end of the year. She currently can pay her rent and provide for her family with the help of other family members. Funds will help her pay medical bills and put gas in her car.
    
    
44. Couple struggles to provide food, pay utilities and clothes for their 7 children. Husband works extra hours at a low paying job to provide for the family. His wife works part-time jobs to help pay the bills and faithfully volunteers at the church in lieu of a weekly donation.
    
    
45. A local Catholic family with nine children continues to struggle with the basic needs of heat, light, water and food. They have learned to live with what they have but could use help to stay out of debt.
    
    
    
    
46. An elderly couple were economically devastated by the wife's medical complications following her surgery. She was the only wage earner, and they need help with her medical and living expenses.
    
    
47. Elderly couple has lost both family and jobs this year. Their main support was their daughter who was deported. This has left them destitute and unable to pay their rent. The father has had a heart attack and the mother has lost her minimum wage job due to cut backs.
    
    
48. This battered mother and her young children are trying to make a fresh start in the U.S. They were starved and abused by the father who is now deported. The mother is waiting for legal paperwork that will allow her to work.
    
    
49. Mother is struggling to raise her two autistic boys under 9 years, as well as a daughter. She has been separated from her husband due to his immigration problems. She has little money to live on and struggles to put food on the table. She cannot work outside of the home due to her sons' extreme disabilities. Her car and refrigerator are broken.
    
    
50. Married couple with two small children has lost their home to foreclosure. They do not have family in the area to help them. The family is trying to keep their utilities current so they will be in good standing for if and when they move to a new home. They have received help from local food pantries but do not have extra money for basic needs like milk, gas for car, etc.
    
    
    
    
51. Single mom with a teenage son has lymphoma. She continues to postpone treatment due to the cost. She works part-time but is unable to make ends meet. Family needs assistance with basic necessities.
    
    
    
    

All funds are distributed through the sponsor, not directly from the Archdiocese. Adopt a Family Information:  (313) 237-4696 / adoptafamily@aod.org