Many families use the holiday season to enjoy warm food, spoil their children with gifts from Santa, and take a break from the day-to-day stress of work to spend quality time with their loved ones.

But for the 15,507 people in Massachusetts that the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported were without stable housing this year, Christmas can be a challenging, if not depressing, time of year.

This is the case for one North Shore woman who wants to give her daughter the Christmas she deserves as her family lives in a homeless shelter. Life in a shelter mixed with an expensive medical bill after facing chronic health issues, she said, has put a significant financial and emotional strain on her and her daughter.

“I’m asking for your help to make my child’s Christmas dream a reality,” the woman said. “Due to me having chronic health issues, I had to leave work, which left a financial burden on my family.”

No child should celebrate without a present, a place to call home, a tree, and a present underneath it. That’s where Item Santa comes in. Now in its 57th year, the Item Santa fund helps to make Christmas brighter for those in need.

If you have the means, please help this mother facing unemployment, housing instability, and chronic illness eliminate one hardship for her family this Christmas by donating to Item Santa.

To donate, clip the coupon in The Item and mail it, along with your check, to The Item Salvation Army Santa, 85 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 01901.
There is also a way to donate online through the Salvation Army at itemsanta.org.

All donations are listed in Item print editions through the month of December and into 2024, along with a brief message from each donor, if desired.