My name is Cynthia Hernandez, and this past year has pushed my family to our limits. I lost my job over a year ago, and never in my life did I think I’d still be unemployed today. I’ve applied everywhere — Dollar Tree, Ralphs, Costco, different industries, anything that might give us a chance — but nothing has opened up.

We lost everything along the way… our apartment, our car, our sense of stability. I’ve tried to stay strong for my kids, but hearing two of my three children say they’ve been struggling with their faith nearly broke me. As a parent, you want to protect their hope. You want them to believe that better days are coming. And when you hear that faith slipping, it takes a toll you can’t even put into words.

Thank God for my mother, who opened her home to us without a second thought. She’s dealing with a fractured disc and a hernia while waiting on surgery, yet she still gives us everything she can. I don’t know where we’d be without her.

I’m just trying to bring a little Christmas spirit back into my kids’ lives after the hardest year we’ve ever lived through. Any help — whether it’s resources, support, or job leads — means more than I can express.

Thank you for taking the time to hear our story