VALENTIN FAMILY NEEDS OUR HELP!!!
Donation protected
Hello friends and neighbors! Wishing everyone the warmest and most joyous of holiday seasons. It is a time of year where we gather with friends and loved ones and truly cherish our many blessings.
However, for many, this time of year does not bring warmth and celebration. It brings bitter cold and feelings of desperation. Friends, this is not happening somewhere in a far away land. It is happening right here in our community. Through Citizens 4 Humanity, our local charitable organization that feeds families in need, the below story was shared with us. When I heard the story of the Valentin family, I was deeply saddened. When I had the chance to meet them, it really hit home. Below is the story about a family who lives in our community who really needs our help!
There are six children Lydia (22), Jocelyn (16), Erica (14), Idelia (11), Genesis (9), Alex (8). They reside in Flanders with their father who lost his job once the season ended. Recently their mother passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in her sleep. The eldest Lydia is now acting as the mother of her five siblings. They have unpaid rent and many utility bills and have lost most of their basic services. Until those debts are satisfied, they will not have access to the basic things you and I take for granted.
Although, Lydia and her father are looking for work, they have been unsuccessful. The little aid they have received is barely enough to cover gas money and put food on the table. Even though both Lydia and her father a great people with workable skills, it has been a struggle to find even part time work. With the long winter approaching, it will be hard to keep a roof over the families head and to make sure the children get to school every morning.
As good academic students, all of the children possess warm and positive spirits. However they don’t meet the standards for appearance and wardrobe, still wearing summer sandels and going to school without warm clothes. Their phone/ internet has also just been shut down so they are in complete dire straights.
One great surprise for the eldest daughter Lydia is that she was selected to audition for America’s got Talent next Sunday. She has a beautiful voice, but needs some last minute coaching to increase her chances. We have found a coach that can work with her (cost is $400). Also, she also needs a dress to wear since she only has sweatpants and open toe sandels. A donated outfit would help to increase her confidence as she performs. So, she needs our help now!!!
So friends, as you sit in your warm family rooms in front of the fire with your loved ones, enjoying your favorite holiday songs and specials on TV, please stop for a moment and think about your neighbor... this local family is sitting in a freezing, depressed and silent home. Think about the father talking to neighbors trying to find handyman jobs to help bring food to his table or the children trying to squeeze under a couple of thin blankets trying to stay warm.Think about the difference you can make in seven people's lives with a small contribution.
I always tell people, the thing I love most about the East End is the feeling of community. We have a village approach to things. We look after each other. We share in many good times together. We believe in “people helping people”. The East End is what I have always hoped to have from the place I call home...family minded. And we were raised to remember that family comes first. And when a family needs our help, we should do anything we can to help them, because NOTHING is more important than family.
Well friends, these family members need our help. It’s time to be the community and people we say we are. Please consider bringing the warmth and love of the holiday season to one of our own on the East End.
Thank you and god bless!
Sheila Barrila
Deputy Volunteer
Citizens 4 Humanity.org
However, for many, this time of year does not bring warmth and celebration. It brings bitter cold and feelings of desperation. Friends, this is not happening somewhere in a far away land. It is happening right here in our community. Through Citizens 4 Humanity, our local charitable organization that feeds families in need, the below story was shared with us. When I heard the story of the Valentin family, I was deeply saddened. When I had the chance to meet them, it really hit home. Below is the story about a family who lives in our community who really needs our help!
There are six children Lydia (22), Jocelyn (16), Erica (14), Idelia (11), Genesis (9), Alex (8). They reside in Flanders with their father who lost his job once the season ended. Recently their mother passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in her sleep. The eldest Lydia is now acting as the mother of her five siblings. They have unpaid rent and many utility bills and have lost most of their basic services. Until those debts are satisfied, they will not have access to the basic things you and I take for granted.
Although, Lydia and her father are looking for work, they have been unsuccessful. The little aid they have received is barely enough to cover gas money and put food on the table. Even though both Lydia and her father a great people with workable skills, it has been a struggle to find even part time work. With the long winter approaching, it will be hard to keep a roof over the families head and to make sure the children get to school every morning.
As good academic students, all of the children possess warm and positive spirits. However they don’t meet the standards for appearance and wardrobe, still wearing summer sandels and going to school without warm clothes. Their phone/ internet has also just been shut down so they are in complete dire straights.
One great surprise for the eldest daughter Lydia is that she was selected to audition for America’s got Talent next Sunday. She has a beautiful voice, but needs some last minute coaching to increase her chances. We have found a coach that can work with her (cost is $400). Also, she also needs a dress to wear since she only has sweatpants and open toe sandels. A donated outfit would help to increase her confidence as she performs. So, she needs our help now!!!
So friends, as you sit in your warm family rooms in front of the fire with your loved ones, enjoying your favorite holiday songs and specials on TV, please stop for a moment and think about your neighbor... this local family is sitting in a freezing, depressed and silent home. Think about the father talking to neighbors trying to find handyman jobs to help bring food to his table or the children trying to squeeze under a couple of thin blankets trying to stay warm.Think about the difference you can make in seven people's lives with a small contribution.
I always tell people, the thing I love most about the East End is the feeling of community. We have a village approach to things. We look after each other. We share in many good times together. We believe in “people helping people”. The East End is what I have always hoped to have from the place I call home...family minded. And we were raised to remember that family comes first. And when a family needs our help, we should do anything we can to help them, because NOTHING is more important than family.
Well friends, these family members need our help. It’s time to be the community and people we say we are. Please consider bringing the warmth and love of the holiday season to one of our own on the East End.
Thank you and god bless!
Sheila Barrila
Deputy Volunteer
Citizens 4 Humanity.org
Organizer
Sheila Minkel Barrila
Organizer
Hampton Bays, NY
