November 29 – LIMA – A Lima woman trying to provide a Merry Christmas for her two young sons is finding it a daunting goal this year.

Sarah, 26, a single mother, is unemployed after the period for temporary transportation services provided by the Allen County Job and Family Services Agency expired earlier this year. Sarah, who has never held a driver’s license, was forced to abandon driver’s training because of the cost when she could no longer get to and from her previous job. Without reliable transportation, driver training seemed like an unnecessary expense at the time.

As the holiday approached, a modestly lit tree was erected in the family’s apartment the week before Thanksgiving, but currently there are no gifts under it. Sarah hopes that can change.

Sarah and her children live in a government subsidized apartment complex on the north side of Lima. Last year, she worked at a McDonald’s restaurant, but unfortunately, the restaurant was not within walking distance of her home. Instead, it was a location on Harding Highway, several miles away. The transportation assistance Sarah once received became scarce after her mother began working full-time.

The lack of a job has made life difficult for Sarah, but her struggle actually began when her eldest son’s father died almost four years ago in what police have classified as a murder/suicide.

“We will never know what really happened because two of the three people involved are gone,” said Sarah.

Sarah and her son’s father lived together for a time but eventually separated “when he put his hands on me” in a domestic disturbance. She lived in a women’s shelter for several months, followed by a short period where she lived with her mother. She has been single for two years now, picking up odd babysitting jobs and sometimes helping her mother clean houses to earn money. She would like a more permanent income — anything from retail to fast food or factory work is fine — but taking care of 2-year-old son Seth is currently a full-time commitment and daycare is costly. Her older son Joseph attends preschool every day and transportation is provided by the West Ohio Community Action Partnership, or WOCAP.

“I’ve struggled this year,” admits Sarah. “It’s been hard trying to keep the kids happy. I mean, they’re pretty happy overall but it hurts when they see other kids with things they can’t have. It would mean a lot to them if we could get help from the community.”

Joseph wears size 6 shirts, size 5T pants, and size 1 shoes. Seth is a 3T/4T in shirts and pants and wears a size 10 baby shoe. Joseph loves Monsters Inc., trucks, and dinosaurs while Seth is into balls , bears and SpongeBob SquarePants. Both boys like books and Sarah loves to read to them.

Sarah herself could use some snow boots, size 9-10 wide, and is always in need of household items such as pots, pans, pillows, cutlery and cleaning supplies.

ADOPT A SOCK

The Adopt a Stocking Fund benefits families during the holiday season. Monetary donations can be made online at giving.salvationarmy.org/stocking or via Adopt A Stocking; c/o Salvation Army; PO Box 234, Lima, OH 45801. All material donations for a specific family should be made to The Salvation Army, 614 E. Market St., Lima, and should include a copy of the article or the date the story appeared in The Lima news. See previous stories at LimaOhio.com/tag/stocking.

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