This single father's toddlers miss their mother, and he's struggling to provide for them.

His wife left him four months ago, abandoning the couple's two children, a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old.

"She met someone else," the dad said.

His own emotional pain is immense, and it's compounded by his kids' grief.

"They don't understand why she's not here, and I don't know what to say. They're so little," he said.

The dad, 28, was an assistant manager at a local restaurant. He was laid off in October, and is now working part-time as a cook.

"My hours are unpredictable, a lot of nights," he said.

His mother, who is disabled, helps him with the children as much as possible. When he works late, the kids spend the night with their grandmother, staying with her in her small, one-bedroom apartment.

"I can't afford a baby sitter or day care," he said.

Without his mother's help, he's not sure what he would do. "She doesn't have much either, and her health's not great," he said.

His wife worked about 20 hours a week, in a local hair salon.

The loss of her income has hurt the little family.

"She's not helping at all. I haven't heard from her. I don't even know where she is. I think she moved to Vegas," the dad said.

Everything he has goes to paying rent, and for diapers and food for the kids, he said.

"This is a really hard Christmas. My son is excited about Santa, and I don't know how there will be anything under the tree," he said. With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for folks like this - people left jobless, homeless or who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.

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 include:

Anonymous; Robert & Eleanor Ehrlich; Shawn & Sarah Swanby; Anonymous; Mr. & Mrs. Harwood; Dennis & Barbara Kammeyer; Paul & Susan Rau; Richard & Lynette Gerhard; Anonymous; Marshall & Dolly Mend; Jennifer & Michael Madden; Anonymous; Bill & Gail Everson; Judy & Dale Bennett; Leland & Lyndell Erwin; Rhoda & Clifford Schlehuber; Mike & Cindy Clabby; Brian Jorgensen - Medicine Man Pharmacy on Ironwood; Marian & Ralph Barker; Virginia Smith; Gracie & Charlie McVey; Charlotte Bouley; Roger & Linda Wilhelm, in memory of Shannon; James & Terry Hamby; Carmen Olson; Jack & Valie Horne; Donald & Louise Mitchell, in memory of Louise Mitchell; K. Giesa Montgomery; Maj & Justin Stormogipson; Dale & Deborah Seagle; Garco Construction, Inc.; Bill & Linda Culp; Anonymous; Jason Sandow; Jason Shadrick; Johnny & Christine Powell; Anonymous; Traci Nagel; Bailey & Shary; Deedie Beard; Terry & Rileen Smith; Anonymous; A1C Michael James Gaboury Jr.; Robert Waddell, in memory of Russell & Dorothy Waddell; Anonymous; Craig Adams; John & Kathy Arrand; Polin & Young Construction Inc.

Notes from our donors

Please accept this donation from Gracie and Charlie McVey. They are 7 months old.

Growing up, my sister and I always gave our allowance for the month of December to Christmas for All, and we want to start the same tradition for our children.

SARAH McVEY

Notes from

our donors

Dear Christmas for All: Every child should wake up to the wide-eyed wonder of a special Christmas gift. Thank you for making this happen.

SUE and CHUCK REINCE

Notes from

our donors

This check is to help the people who need it. When we were young we both went through something like this.

We have been married now for 71 years. We sure hope this will help. Merry Christmas to all.

ARTHUR and JEARL WOOD

To all for Press Christmas, bless you for what you are doing and conveying messages to the unfortunate ones! I pray many, many of those "who have" will respond to those "who have not."

DONNA YOUNG