Carl believes the true spirit of Christmas is being with the ones you love.
And, by that measure, he considers himself the luckiest man in the world.
He may not have the means to give his five children the most expensive presents or get them everything on their wish lists. But he has something that money cannot buy: a deep love and appreciation for his family.
Carl, whose name has been changed to protect his privacy, believes that is more important than anything else. It’s a lesson he tries to teach his children.
He has four boys from a previous marriage and welcomed a little girl to the family earlier this year. The children range in age from to 10 months to 12 years old.
Times have been tough for quite some time for his family.
The 40-year-old used to receive Social Security because of medical issues that arose following a surgery to correct a herniated disc. But he said he decided a few years ago that he wanted to go back to work.
But, after his first wife left him nearly six years ago to raise four boys on his own he realized that it was too difficult to hold down a job and tend to their needs.
“It was really hard being a single father,” he said.
That task has been even more challenging given that all his children suffer from some kind of health issue. That means his days are filled with doctor appointments, physical therapy sessions and special education classes.
Thankfully, Carl said he found a new partner who was willing to help shoulder some of that burden. They were married last year and welcomed a little girl to the family.
“Everything has been kind of hard lately,” he said. “We had a house that we were renting from someone, but it turned out that the person was not allowed to rent it out so we got told we had to leave about six months ago. Now we are staying with my mom until we can get into something else.”
Carl said having eight people living under one roof is not an ideal situation and he is searching for a new home for his family. In the meantime, he says he relies on the help of others and the hope that things are going to get better.
“My goal is to give the kids a good holiday and, to me, that means celebrating the fact that we are all together,” he said.
Operation Holiday
Operation Holiday was started in 1991 at The Mercury in Pottstown to help families going through tough times provide something for their children during the holidays. The mission of the program is to make sure there is food on the table and gifts under the tree when Christmas morning comes.
Now in its 32nd year, the program has served thousands of families throughout Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties, expanding its reach in recent years to include communities served by Reading Eagle, The Times Herald, The Reporter, and Daily Local News.
More than $122,000 in donations last year provided food and gifts for 379 children and cash donations to 13 food pantries in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 22 agencies in the tri-county area. Agencies have referred 144 families with 375 children for gifts and food and an additional 34 families for food. The program is also assisting the eight families in Pottstown who lost their homes in a devastating explosion in May.
There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay local. Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of MediaNews Group who volunteer their time.
Gift cards to area grocery stores are provided to each family for food, so that they can purchase the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry. Weis Markets is a partner with Operation Holiday and has assisted with food purchases and gift cards.
Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies so that families can purchase gifts of their choice.
Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency.
Operation Holiday is funded solely by reader contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.
How to donate
Online donations are being accepted in a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Visit https://tcnetwork.org/ and click on the link for Operation Holiday.
Contributions can be mailed with checks payable to Operation Holiday to PO Box 1181, Pottstown PA 19464; The Reporter, 307 Derstine Ave., Lansdale PA 19446; Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607.
The names of all contributors are published in the participating newspapers as donations are received. Please note whether a contribution should be designated as anonymous or given in tribute or in memory of someone.
Source: Berkshire mont
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