Wendy moved to Taft four months ago with her husband and five children. She is expecting the sixth on March 26, 2013. Although she did not want to ask for help, she knew with the two oldest going to kindergarden and first grade, she was going to need it. Wendy does not want to be a burden, but needs the most help at the beginning of the school year with clothes and school supplies. CfK is Christian oriented which is something that is important to Wendy. Her husband works, but gets laid off a lot due to contract labor. She works as a waitress, but after paying rent and the bills not much is left. The children are involved in football, cheer, ect. and that can get expensive. Wendy stated, “Not everyone who comes to Christmas 4 Kids is unemployed. I am pregnant and still work seven days a week, only to come home and cook dinner.” She goes by the motto “No one will help you if you do not have the confidence to help yourself.”
Ricardo and his son Junior love Christmas for Kids and have been coming to their events for six months. He is unemployed at this time. Ricardo and his wife have four children all together and live in Taft, Texas. Christmas 4 Kids helps his family with food and clothing. Junior has to go to Driscoll Children’s Hospital 2-4 times per week in order to see a dietician and speech therapist. Unfortunately, Junior has a lot of allergies, which can be expensive.
Jessica is a single mother who has three children. She is also responsible for the care of her disabled mother. Unfortunately, she recently got laid off from her job. Jessica served our country in the military for 6 years, but is finding it difficult to get a job as a veteran. She said, “I will work as much as possible for any kind of income.” Jessica used to be ashamed to ask for help, but Christmas for Kids has been able to supply her with blankets, socks, coats, and backpacks filled with school supplies without any cost to her.