Joseph Pisani And Christopher Rugaber
Shanita Matthews plays with her 6-year-old daughter Breilin her home, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Suwanee, Ga. Matthews, who had to close her wedding business because of the coronavirus outbreak, is scaling back her Christmas plans. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) December 24, 2020 - 5:57 AM
NEW YORK - Last Christmas, Shanita Matthews cooked up a feast for her family of three: Roast chicken, barbecue spareribs, spinach, macaroni and cheese.
This year? Theyâll stick with tuna fish and crackers, among the few items she can afford at the supermarket.
âWeâre not really doing Christmas â I guess you can say it that way,â said Matthews, who lives in Suwanee, Georgia. âWe are struggling. We are tired, and all I have is my faith.
Dec 24, 2020 2:58 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) Last Christmas, Shanita Matthews cooked up a feast for her family of three: Roast chicken, barbecue spareribs, spinach, macaroni and cheese.
This year? They’ll stick with tuna fish and crackers, among the few items she can afford at the supermarket.
“We’re not really doing Christmas I guess you can say it that way,” said Matthews, who lives in Suwanee, Georgia. “We are struggling. We are tired, and all I have is my faith.”
Like nearly 10 million other Americans, Matthews has been jobless since the viral pandemic ripped through the U.S. economy in March, triggering a devastating recession and widespread unemployment. Now, many months later, they face a holiday season they hardly could have foreseen a year ago: Too little money to buy gifts, cook large festive meals or pay all their bills.
We are struggling : A bleak Christmas for America s jobless
Shanita Matthews pauses as she speaks in her home, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Suwanee, Ga. Matthews had to close her wedding business because of the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Shanita Matthews plays with her 6-year-old daughter Breilin her home, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Suwanee, Ga. Matthews, who had to close her wedding business because of the coronavirus outbreak, is scaling back her Christmas plans. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Published December 24. 2020 8:03AM
By JOSEPH PISANI and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) Last Christmas, Shanita Matthews cooked up a feast for her family of three: Roast chicken, barbecue spareribs, spinach, macaroni and cheese.