Share the Season: Family struggles to pay bills after father laid off with injured back

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 couple with a 7-year-old son has been struggling to pay bills since the father was injured on the job and laid off in April.

His disability request was denied, and he has been looking for work although he still suffers pain and discomfort in his back.

The mother is working full time and putting in overtime to pay bills. She also is suffering from the recent loss of her mother and grandmother.

“I'm left with very little family and support. The holidays are the hardest times for my family,” she wrote in her Share the Season application.

Her application was approved, and she will soon receive money to pay some of her monthly bills, the woman said.

“It was a true blessing,” she said. “Oh, man, it brought tears to my eyes. I thought it was a gimmick until it happened.

“To have a program like that for someone who has income and just needs an extra push – it’s very nice,” she said.

Share the Season is a joint project of The Eagle, the Wichita Community Foundation and the Salvation Army.

So far, it has raised more than $90,530.

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: Anonymous, in memory of Ken Brokaw; anonymous, in memory of Sophie Hunsaker; Ted and Marcia Ayres, in honor of Marni Stevens; Eric Jay and Patsy Davis, in memory of Charles Davis; Donner & Blitzen; Brian and Shawna, in memory of Nadine Harman and Barbara Criswell; Rob and Karla Luallen; Carl and Sandra Nickles, in memory of Versea, Hattie and Marie; Gilbert and Sharon Nye; William and Marva Reeves; Larry and Colleen Schaar, in memory of Philip Schaar; Ronald and Kimberly Trignano; and 14 anonymous donors.

This story was originally published December 3, 2014 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Share the Season: Family struggles to pay bills after father laid off with injured back."