Share the Season: She’s behind on bills because of illness. Here’s how to help
Share the Season is an annual campaign that offers one-time aid to people affected by unforeseen hardships. The people are not identified to protect their privacy.
A Wichita woman who has been reluctant to ask for help in the past felt like she had no choice this holiday season. In July, an emergency hysterectomy caused her to miss eight weeks from her job with a mobile telephone service provider. She returned to work but was forced to take another leave in October because of mental health issues.
Meanwhile, bills piled up for the home in which she raises her three children, who are 1, 4 and 6 years old.
"I am humble enough to know that at this point I need help," the woman said in her Share the Season application.
Share the Season was able to pay her water bill, which had become inflated partly because of a leak.
"I'm not stressing about these bills, and I have more money to pay holiday bills and other bills, and the cost of Santa Claus," said the woman, who has returned to her job.
She heard about Share the Season through social media. Now that she's received help, she is looking forward to returning the favor someday.
“Once the program helps you come up or do better in life, you should share that.”
Share the Season is a joint project of The Eagle, the Wichita Community Foundation and the Salvation Army.
So far this season, it has raised more than $59,016.
Send contributions to Share the Season at the Wichita Community Foundation, 301 N. Main, Suite 100, Wichita, KS 67202. To donate online, go to www.sharetheseason.org. If you have questions about donating, call 316-264-4880.
Donors will be listed in The Eagle; please note if you prefer to remain anonymous.
To apply for help, fill out an application at www.sharetheseason.org or pick one up at the Salvation Army, 350 N. Market. The application deadline is Dec. 15. For more information, call 316-263-2769.
Among recent donors:
Arlene Chadd; Darrell Chew, in memory of Virginia Chew and Julie Chew; Clark and Sharon Bastian Donor Advised Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation; Norma Clem; anonymous, in memory of Stewart Coffin; Ronald and DeLonna Coleman; Patricia Couger, in memory of Richard Minkler; Elizabeth Cummings; Thelma Dameron, in memory of J.C. Dameron; Jettie P. Dennis Jr. & Sarah N. Dennis Charitable Memorial Fund, in honor of the Jackson Mortuary; Jettie P. Dennis Jr. & Sarah N. Dennis Charitable Memorial Fund, in honor of the Family of Dr. Val Jackson Sr. & Mrs. Josephine Brown; Bruce and Julie Deterding; Darrel & Eunice Doerksen; anonymous, in memory of Bill Van Dolah; Frederick and Wanda Eilts; Phillip Escareno; Joseph and Sandra Francel; Paul and Bernadette Frank; Timothy and Deborah Fred.
Ted and Marcia Ayres, in honor of Marni Stevens; James and Rhonda Bevilacqua; Jay and Sharon Bezdek; anonymous, in memory of Robert Byrne; Patricia Butin; Kevin and Cheryl Cardwell; Mary Chaney, in memory of John and Delores Naramore; Joel and Sue Christians, in memory of Bill Marsh; Natalie Clark; Kevin and Kimberly Coe; Gary and Nancy Conover; Stephanie Conrad; Jack and Marilyn DeBoer; Jim and Marlies Delventhal; Cyd Gilman; Brenda Golden; Bryan and Darcie Green; Shayla Hammeke; Holy Savior Catholic Church, James Billinger; Steven and Susan Houlik; Rosalie Klocke; Roger J. Koeppen; Keith and Linda Kontz;
Eric and Debra Larson; Robert Lee; Hazel Linder, in memory of Jim Linder; Ruth Meyer; R. Keith and Ilene Miers, in honor of Frank Vandervort; Gilbert and Sharon Nye; Dee O'Rourke and Bruce Peters, in memory of Vera O'Rourke and Virginia Peters; Katie and Larry Oller; Lila Osborne; Virgil and Marjorie Palmer; Terry Pope; Thomas and Kathleen Pott; Betty Regier; George Stump; Timothy Swanson, in honor of Jay D. Swanson; Tim and Shelley Thelen; Sherri Thomas; Dora Timmerman and Robert Bayer; Ruth Ann Timmermeyer; Janice Tuttle; Duane and Aletha Van Camp; and 11 anonymous donors.
This story was originally published November 28, 2017 at 1:01 PM with the headline "Share the Season: She’s behind on bills because of illness. Here’s how to help."