Family needs some help for Christmas

With Christmas less than a week away, Hope's Helping Hand is hoping the community can pull together to help a local family.

The family lives in a 16x24 cabin, and their needs are numerous. Their well is at 80 feet, and they could use some basic plumbing to access the water. A tub and a sink are also needed to plumb in a bathroom in the cabin. Lumber is also needed to help with the construction of a bathroom in the house.

On Thanksgiving -- a day supposed to be for giving thanks -- the family's gas stove broke, and they have not been able to use the oven since.

The family could also use some carpet -- new or used -- for the cabin, as well as some drywall for the ceiling.

There is no good time for medical emergencies to pop up, but they happened in this case. Recently, the wife had to have a hysterectomy and can't work or drive for the time being, adding to the family's hardship this holiday season.

The husband is trying to find employment in the construction field to help support the family, which includes two step-daughters.

With all the concerns of getting their cabin fixed up, Christmas is going to be tough this year.

Putting presents under the tree is a luxury many people take for granted, and this family could use a hand in that department as well. With two young children, having some presents will make the entire holiday seem brighter.

One of the girls is 13 and likes "typical girl, teen things," their Hope's Helping Hand submission said. The younger daughter is 5 and loves everything about Bob the Builder.

No matter how big or small, every penny and every gift counts in making the holiday better for the family.

You can contribute to Hope's Helping Hand by dropping donations off at the Frontiersman.

The program was started by the Frontiersman several years ago in hopes of helping others not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. People submit information about others they think could use a hand, and an independent board evaluates each one.

In the past, the program has helped people who lost their homes to fire just before the holidays have a decent Christmas, as well as help handicapped people get help with some of their living conditions.

All money and goods raised for the program goes directly to the program's recipients -- there is no administrative costs paid for by the program's donations.

For more information about how to submit families for the program, or how to donate to Hope's Helping Hand, interested people can call the Frontiersman at 352-2250.