Share the Season: Family struggles after dad’s surgeries, new baby

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.

The family of six tries hard to put food on the table.

There are four children, ranging in age from 7 years to 10 months.

This past year, the father has struggled with multiple surgeries for his shoulder, back and thumb.

He tore his rotator cuff lifting, and, he has had surgery for two herniated discs in his lower back.

The day before Thanksgiving he was scheduled to have surgery on his thumb, because he can no longer grasp things.

“I’ve been off work and when I take off work, I don’t get paid,” the father said. “We got behind on our bills. We were struggling to buy groceries for the kids. And during that time, my wife was off work because she had the baby.”

Share the Season helped get the family caught up with some of their bills.

“This time of the year, it is something to be thankful about,” he said.

So far, Share the Season has raised $61,720.

Send contributions to Share the Season at the Wichita Community Foundation, 301 N. Main, Suite 100, Wichita, KS 67202. If you have questions, call 316-264-4880.

To donate online, go to www.sharetheseason.org.

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 midnight Dec. 19. For more information, call 316-263-2769.

Among recent donors: John and Pat Siedhoff; and three anonymous donors.

This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Share the Season: Family struggles after dad’s surgeries, new baby."