The thousands of Kootenai County families who have asked for holiday help from Press Christmas for All this year tell us why they are seeking assistance.

They are our neighbors who are jobless, homeless or who are barely making ends meet. There are individuals with disabilities, some with mental illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.

Here are bits of their stories, in their own words, taken straight from their applications:

"I am unemployed and my wife is on disability awaiting a heart transplant, and I have my 15-year-old son."

"I live on a very tight budget in general but have recently had a horrible string of bad luck. I was attacked by my ex-husband and beaten badly ... I don't know how I will manage Christmas for my little girl as I am a single mom and her dad does not pay child support."

"I'm very sick and this may be my last Christmas with my children. I lost my father in November and I had to pay to put my father to rest. It took every dime to my name. I had to sell everything and my car ... Please help us ... God bless you."

Mother of three, 42

"I am a single mother of seven kids. My husband left us for another life. I am trying to better my life, but without financial support it is difficult. I have two children with cleft palates, one having 23 surgeries, the other with two."

"Homeless. Live in a van."

Man, 60

"My husband has been disabled for seven years, and I am disabled. I am in and out of the hospital. I have no insurance till January 1, 2012 so we are in a lot of medical bills. I have one son that got out of the Army a year ago and can't find a job, and a son that is disabled, so I support all of them ... I have another son in the Army that I can't even send anything to for Christmas, and he's in Afghanistan."

Woman, 47

"I recently lost my husband to cancer, and then was laid off from my job. I do not qualify for unemployment. I do not want my kids to know how bad I am struggling. They have already had enough with their father gone. Please help brighten our holidays. Thank you and God Bless."

Mother of two, 38

With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for folks like this.

Last year, our generous readers' donations allowed us to assist thousands of families in need.

Each day until Christmas, we will share the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.

Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.

Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 26th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and their partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards for Shopko and Super 1. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products. All contributions are tax deductible.

To donate, please send a check to:

Press Christmas for All

201 Second St.

Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

You can also call (208) 664-8176 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and donate by credit card.

Recent donors:

Larry & Adrienne Unruh; Anonymous; Frances Bell; Michael & Josie Mongan, Steve & Heather Blood, Ronnie, Amber, John, Donna Barrett, Cindy & Hazel Church, & Dorothy Schumlich; Dan & Terry Crawford; Dana & Joe Allen; Polly Parisot, in honor of Ron & Ellie Goltz, Mike, & friends at Lake Towers; Harry & Ione Perry; Frank & Glenna Ames; Jack & Jackie McNeel; Kenneth & Joni Wakefield; Anonymous, in memory of Margie Nordstrom, Steven Hancock, & Jon Kosty; Dr. Cheryl Wood; Charles & Cynthia Matthews, in memory of George Inglis; Bettyjune & Thomas Cornelison; Bob & Sally Mackenzie, in memory of Sylvia Spain; Del & Constance Lutsenhizer; Clarence & Mary Helgeson; Barry & Joyce Bergen; Faye Shankle; The Kegley; Anonymous; T.D. & S.M. Robinson; Sandy & Fred Ambrose; Donna & Pat Hurrell, in memory of Bill Custer, & Don Hurrell; Roberta Dube; Rita & Clarke Webb; Phillip & Mary Hayes; Keith & Marie Straley; Onalee & Robert Crockett; Anonymous; Alastair & Joyce Summers; K. Joey Grunden; Hendricks Design; Mike & Nola Hawley; Michael & Marilyn Haenke; Gerald & Helen Taylor; Anonymous; Kathryn Cain; Carol Miller; Mike & BettyAnn Pertony; Kevin & Melissa Bohanon; Andrew & Owen Mangini; Anonymous; The Vehicle Shoppe; Helen McFarlind, in memory of Jim, Steve, & Bill; Allen & Thelma Fulleton; Sara Torre, in memory of Dorothy Evans; Paul Anderson & Sandy Hall; Anonymous; David & Barbara Young; Chip & Tallie Althen.

Notes from

our donors

This is the second Christmas that we have donated to a Press Christmas for All. We appreciate the fact that it helps those families in our local area have a merry Christmas. We would also like to thank all the volunteers at a Press Christmas for All who make this possible. We hope our small donation will make someone's Christmas happier.

LINDA SAKAI and GAVIN YOUNG

I read the stories of these sad parents who are struggling to survive. It's sad to see how many are having financial problems each year. I've always had a little something to put under the tree. Nothing much but homemade pj's (that they needed in cold Minnesota). I'm a senior on fixed income. Wish it could be more. May the Lord bless each one who needs help.

LUCILLE TULLEY