Unpaid maternity leave sets family behind on bills
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.
With 11 years on the job as a warehouse clerk, this single mom thought her job stability was providing a sound financial foundation for her young family.
But after eight weeks of unpaid maternity leave earlier this year, the 29-year-old found herself behind on bills. Her wages were recently garnished, reducing her paycheck significantly.
“We just cannot catch a break,” the mother of a 7-year-old girl and 6-month-old boy wrote in her application to Share the Season. “It would lift a huge weight off our shoulders to know we are getting caught up on bills.”
She’s two months behind on her monthly car payments and owes hundreds on utility bills.
Her boyfriend lives with the family but has been unable to find work.
“I have the only income,” she said, “and it’s really been hard. I’ve considered letting the car go just to pay off other bills.”
But then she would have trouble getting to work.
“We would seriously appreciate the help,” she said, “so we could get ourselves caught up on bills and have a Christmas for our children.”
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 $61,076.
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. 20. For more information, call 316-263-2769.
Among recent donors: Donald and Karen Harviston; Joan Harris, in memory of Pam Slaughter and Robert Harris; Leo and Carolyn Holmes; Steven and Susan Houlik; Louis and Terry Heldman; Gary and Debbie Henning; John and Anita Horton; C. Gordon Harrod; Lonnie Hossfeld; Dana Hamant; Sally Herrington; James and Christine House; Karen and George Haynes; Carolee Harshfield; Richard Hiebsch.
Judith Johnson, in memory of Marion Richey; Anne Jones, in memory of Gene Jones; Marvin Keeler; Greg and Deborah Kubin; Charles and Patsy Kerley; Dean Krug; Mark and Donna Kennedy; Rosalie Klocke; Barbara Keating; Loretta Koehn; Errol and Suzanne Luginbill; Kent and Jeanette Lanier; Joseph Latas; D. Craig and Deborah Levering, in memory of Gary Dyer; Brett Lewis; Coleman Employees Community Fund; Robert Lee.
Anonymous, in honor of Donna and Bert Beckman; anonymous, in memory of Eldor Wulf; anonymous, in memory of Darin Compton; anonymous, in honor of Matthew West Walker; anonymous, in memory of Leland Stotts; anonymous, in honor of Kenny Rinker; anonymous, in memory of Emmet and Opal Whitaker; anonymous, in memory of Orlan Simpson; anonymous, in memory of Duane and Doris Kaufman; anonymous, in memory of John O’Neill and Bill Evans.
This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Unpaid maternity leave sets family behind on bills."