Nancy, a single mother of a 3-year-old boy, works at a job that pays only $8.50 an hour.
At the same times, she pays about $650 a month for rent, plus car insurance, the cost of utilities and other bills.
âI honestly live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to give my son the Christmas he deserves,â Nancy wrote in a letter to Valley Santa.
In her letter, Nancy wrote that her son Mason âlikes anything most 3-year-old boys like.â
She asked for Valley Santaâs help so that he has a gift to open on Christmas morning. Valley Santa relies on donations and volunteers shop for toys for children in need throughout Luzerne County at Boscovâs in Wilkes-Barre.
Amber, a mother of two sets of twins, lost her job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and is struggling to survive on unemployment benefits.
âItâs very hard trying to decide what to pay for: food or whatever the need may be,â Amber wrote in a letter to Valley Santa. âItâs not enough.â
Amber asked for Valley Santaâs help to provide Christmas gifts for her four children.
Her twin daughters like dolls and her twin sons like action figures and toy cars.
Valley Santa relies on donations to purchase toys for children in need throughout Luzerne County and volunteers shop for them at Boscovâs in Wilkes-Barre. Each child also receives a book.
Their friend Lori wrote a letter to Valley Santa asking if the children could receive Christmas gifts.
According to her letter, Mark lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim works part-time as a housekeeper in a nursing home.
As a result of the pandemic, Lori said they canât bring donations to the nursing home and she hopes Valley Santa will help this family.
âThe family has always been very supportive of our community and helpful,â Lori wrote.
Valley Santa needs donations to purchase Christmas gifts for these children in need.
Lori said she would be grateful if Valley Santa could help the family during these difficult times in the holiday season.
Dan, a local father, was injured this year and hasnât been working for months due to his injuries.
Now, he and his wife are home with their children while they are learning virtually because of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The familyâs social worker Amy wrote a letter to Valley Santa asking if their children could receive toys for Christmas.
Valley Santa relies on donations to purchase Christmas gifts for children in need throughout Luzerne County. Volunteers shop for toys for them at Boscovâs in Wilkes-Barre. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers are packing the toys with gift bags to send to children in need. In her letter, Amy wrote that this particular family is grateful for the Valley Santa program and âappreciative of any help during these trying times.â
She said she cleans to earn money but the COVID-19 pandemic has limited her employment.
âThe limited hours are making it hard to pay my bills,â she wrote in a letter to Valley Santa.
Angela asked for Valley Santaâs help to provide a Christmas gift for her son Nick.
Her letter was one of many sent to Valley Santa from parents who are struggling financially and who asked for help to provide toys for their children.
Local mother Samantha wrote in her letter that she needs help so that her three children have Christmas gifts.
âI work part-time along with caring for my sick mother and also helping with my 15-year-old sister,â she wrote. âIt would help me out so much. Anything would be greatly appreciated.â