Share the Season: Injury, cancer diagnosis leave family short on funds

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 family quickly fell into a dire financial state after the husband was hurt on the job and then was diagnosed with cancer.

The 43-year-old wife still had her job, but her income wasn’t enough to cover all the bills for the family. Two of the couple’s five children still live at home.

“I didn’t know what we were going to do,” she said.

But then she read about Share the Season in The Eagle and put in her application. After recently receiving help from the annual campaign, the family was able to catch up on utility bills and restock the pantry.

“Oh my gosh, that is a great program,” she said. “It’s hard to get help when you’re working. That’s what makes the program so great. It helps working people who run into some difficulties.

“It was very humbling. And the people were so nice to us.”

The help will also allow her to continue with her goal of becoming a nurse. After taking this semester off because of the financial trouble, she’ll finish her applied science degree next spring and then begin work on her nursing degree.

Financial trouble started for the family in mid-August after her husband’s injury. Not only wasn’t he able to work, he didn’t receive workers’ compensation because he didn’t file a claim right away, she said.

While recovering from the injury, he was diagnosed with cancer. He begins radiation treatments this month.

“With only one income,” she wrote in her application, “all the bills are late and (it’s) getting worse.”

Until now.

“Thanks to Share the Season,” she said.

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 $86,796.

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.

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Share the Season: Injury, cancer diagnosis leave family short on funds."