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(Stories about donors have been moved to the DONORS page)
Quincy woman struggling to keep grandson safe
A grandmother who took guardianship of her 4-year-old grandson from her drug-abusing daughter wonders how she will get him to school after her car fails inspection.
Single dad’s back at work, but still struggling
After John lost his job, he and his young son moved from place to place while he looked for work. He finally scraped up enough money to get an apartment, but now he has little left for anything else. He and his 4-year-old boy have basic needs: groceries, beds and winter clothes.
Mom struggles on homefront while husband serves overseas
Her family’s finances were stretched when she moved back home to care for her ailing mom. Now that her mother-in-law is ill, too, there’s even less money for the basics. And her husband is a Green Beret serving overseas.
Mother and daughter need help keeping house livable
When nothing else is going right, Ruth retreats to the comfort and security of home. But after years of piecemeal repairs on a leaky roof and a cracked foundation, the home she shares with her mother has become more a source of stress than a place of solace.
Mom trying to help kids with mental illness
In past years, a single mother of two mentally ill children has resisted accepting help from the Lend a Hand program, believing other families needed it assistance more than she does. This year, Colleen decided to tell her story, in hopes that it will bring more donations into the program.
Dad and son tackle teen’s cancer
Steve Lovell, a long-haul trucker, took his son Travis along with him during the summer. The two forged close bonds during those trips. Now, Steve is giving up his job which keeps him on the road 22 days of each month so that he can help Travis through his cancer treatments. The 13-year-old is battling Ewing’s sarcoma.
'We have to have something to put under our tree'
At South Shore Community Action Council, callers this year say they need help just getting a few presents to put under their trees for the kids. That is in addition to the growing requests for assistance with food, fuel and other basics. Open the story to hear the agency's executive director, Pat Daly, talk about the problem.
Parents of teen with heart ailment in tough financial straits
Parking, gas, food and lodging expenses for constant trips to Boston hospitals have strained the finances of a Plymouth couple whose 19-year-old son suffers from a rare, debilitating heart condition.
Plymouth couple raising granddaughter get a boost
Mom working hard to help two disabled kids
Juggling the constant needs of two disabled children doesn’t leave much time for Nancy to take care of herself. Instead of giving up, Nancy finds the strength to fill out mountains of paperwork, meet with countless doctors and therapists and still be a mom.
A sick husband, 4 kids, no job and Christmas is coming
Donna and Tom have been hit by one medical crisis after another this past year. He has heart disease and diabetes. She lost her job. Now, they are worried that they won’t be able to put anything under the Christmas tree for their four kids.
Quincy nonprofit helps those in a pinch
At Quincy Community Action Programs, the most watched economic indicator is the number of people seeking help from its emergency food center. And the number are way up compared to this time last year.
Stricken with cancer, Mom’s Christmas wish is more time with kids
Christmas is always a major event for this single-parent family of five, but this year, Kathy has just one wish: more time. “I want to live as long as I can to be with my children and watch them grow up,” she says, wiping tears away. A plaid scarf is tied around her head because she has lost hair to chemotherapy. Open this story to hear Kathy talk about her situation.
Ansaphone's 24-hour phone line makes donating easy
Once again, Ansaphone Service Inc. is making it easier than ever to donate money to Lend A Hand. Ansaphone workers will be available now until the end of the year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take calls at 617-424-9825.
Christmas presents just aren’t in budget for father of six
Raising six kids between ages 5 and 14 by himself is a struggle. He cut out his daily cup of coffee from a local shop and the occasional pizza nights with the family. Still, his paycheck doesn’t stretch far enough for him to buy presents for the children or even a Christmas tree. That's where you can help.
More seeking help from South Shore Mental Health
The economic downturn is bringing more people through the doors of Quincy-based South Shore Mental Health. “We are seeing a substantial increase in demand for our services, and we have the highest number of new case intakes in our 73 year history,” said Harry Shulman, the agency’s president and CEO.
Single mom struggles to provide for her two children
After trying unsuccessfully to turn her business around, Kiefer took a job as a waitress. While she is grateful for the job, she continues to struggle, unable to bring in enough money to cover the new muffler her car needs or the Christmas gifts she knows her children would love to have.
Military career cut short, single mom fights a different battle
Amy hoped for a career in the Marines, but a bad case of asthma forced her out. Then an abusive husband forced her to return to Quincy and start over.Parents of twins struggle to pay bills
Seven years ago, John and Olive left Cameroon for a better life in America. They ended up on the South Shore and have received lots of help from their neighbors – including from donors to the Lend a Hand program – on the road to achieving their dream of self-sufficiency.
We’re ready to help the needy; are you in?
The Patriot Ledger’s 2009 Lend a Hand fundraising effort begins today with the goal of helping some of the South Shore’s neediest and most distressed people during this holiday season.
Local agencies are swamped by even heavier demands
As bad as last year was, director of local social service agencies say the prolonged recession has left this holiday season looking bleaker than ever for stuggling families and inidividuals.
Giving is a gift no amount of money can buy
Since Lend a Hand began holiday fundraising in 1998, Patriot ledger readers have donated more than $1.8 mllion. It has been used for toys for needy children, oil tank fill-ups, orthopedic braces, mattresses, warm coats, baby diapers, roof shingles, rental deposits, refrigerators, dental work, eyeglasses, car repairs, used handicapped equipped vans and supermarket stock-ups. It’s a breathtaking figure – all the more remarkable because it has come almost entirely through small donations from individuals like you.
An early start for this year's campaign
Santa Claus Rounseville, better known by his legal name Uncle Sam, has donated his billboard at the corner of Newport Avenue and Beale Street to promote The Patriot Ledger's 12th annual Lend A Hand campaign.
Stories from 2008
