From a family with three children and a disabled father:

"We are a two-parent household with one income. Day-care cost is high, so we struggle to make ends meet. My husband had a surgery on his shoulder earlier in the year, and was not making enough to make ends meet at that time, and we are still recovering from that loss of income.''

From a family with three children and a single wage-earner:

"I have three children. I have been unemployed for the last year and a half. (The father of two of the children) has not paid child support in 11/2 to two years. The father of (the third child) is the only person with income in the household. Currently, we are two months behind on the mortgage payment because of my job loss. I am looking for work but have not been successful at this time. We are struggling with providing food and paying bills. We do not have the extra money to provide gifts for the kids. We are trying to play catch-up with the mortgage at this time.''

From a grandmother caring for her grandchildren:

"I am the grandmother, and I have custody of my two grandsons. Their mother and father is nowhere around, and I cannot provide gifts for them this year.''

From a single mother with two children, one of whom has a chronic illness:

"I have been divorced now three years. I work limited hours. My son has diabetes and the co-pays are expensive. It's hard to make ends meet. I worry a lot about providing everything they need.''

From a single mother of six:

"I am a single mother of six children. I have all I can do to pay the rent and utility bills. I just want them to have a happy Christmas.''

From an unemployed mother of three:

"(A 14-year-old daughter) is one of three siblings residing with mom. Mom is temporarily out of work and on disability. Christmas will be bleak without assistance this year. (Her daughter) enjoys shopping and wonders why things can't be like they used to be. Mom would like this to happen even for one day, and has requested a gift certificate to the mall to surprise (her daughter) this Christmas.''

From a one-income family with three children:

"Mom is a stay-at-home mom with two toddlers and an adolescent son. The husband supports the family on his two jobs and is rarely home. Mom is at home a lot and any extra help would be great because they have a lot of bills.''

From a foster mother caring for six children:

"The four children in the family, ages 2-11, were removed from their home earlier this year. The foster home is a relative who has two children of her own. Taking in these children has been difficult financially. The biological mom is unable to help out due to her own financial difficulties and the father just lost his job. The foster mom asked for assistance so the children she's taken in (her nieces) will be able to have a nice Christmas.''

From a single mother of three recovering from cancer:

"(A 7-year-old boy) lives with his mother, brother and sister. His mother underwent treatment for cancer and was out of work for the past six months. Obviously, the family has suffered financially. Mother is better now and back to work, but is struggling catching up with bills. Mother would like to give (her son) a nice Christmas after a very tough year for the family.''

"Right now, we are living in a family shelter that takes 80 percent of our money for savings. I don't get any help from my sons' father, so it makes it hard for a single mother to do something by myself.''