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To ask, or not to ask: that is the dilemma
"It’s hard to ask for help," said a single mother, who wrote to Globe Santa on behalf of her 12-year-old son.
Globe Santa is no stranger to the sometimes painful choice confronting families in need: do we accept help, or risk disappointing the ones we love the most?
“I’m sure you hear this a lot, but it’s hard to ask for help,” said a single mother from Boston’s South Shore, who wrote to Globe Santa on behalf of her 12-year-old son.
It took a series of setbacks before she was ready to reach out.
“During Covid, I was laid off from my job of 17 years,” she wrote. “Since that time, I have sent out dozens of resumes and taken two low-paying jobs because I have had no other choice.”
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Her struggle to find work is a common predicament. Labor market data shows the economy is strong, but if you ask anyone looking for work if it’s easy to find a full-time job with good pay and benefits the answer usually isn’t yes.
The boy’s father battles addiction and has been largely absent from their lives.
“My ex-husband is not able to contribute child support, so it’s only me. That keeps me up at night,” she explains.
In the letter, she spoke fondly of her son, who she called a “great kid.”
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“He is 12 and is in 7th grade. He plays football and loves to skateboard. And snowboard. Unfortunately, that’s on the back burner for now,” she wrote.
A lean budget means her son has to choose between hobbies, and skateboarding is a lot less expensive than snowboarding. The boy is a loving, supportive child who is mature for his age, and easy to please, she said.
“Even the smallest gift would make a difference,” she writes. “This kindness is a gift.”
It is the kindness of strangers that allows Globe Santa to help tens of thousands of children a year during holiday time.
Their generous donations mean that children in families that are struggling will receive new books, toys and games, after a very trying year.
Many of Globe Santa’s friends are longtime contributors. They give because they care about children, in memory of a loved one, or because they benefited from Globe Santa when they were a child.
You can join them by visiting globesanta.org.
Christopher Tangney can be reached at [email protected]
For 69 years Globe Santa, a program of the Boston Globe Foundation, has provided gifts to children in need at holiday time. Please consider giving by phone, mail, or online at globesanta.org.
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