The mother’s financial needs were so great that in her October letter requesting holiday toys for her kids, she enclosed her most recent gas bill.
The account was $1,800 past due. It was not winter yet.
Many of the families who turn to Globe Santa tell us they are financially stretched to the breaking point. There are many reasons for this: They may have lost their homes, their jobs, or a parent. They may be too sick to work, lost everything in a house fire, or had to flee a domestic violence situation.
About 16,000 letters have arrived in Globe Santa’s mailbox so far this year. They are read and processed by a dedicated team who ensures that every letter is answered with a box of toys and books.
But if there’s been one consistent theme in this year’s letters, one calamity most often cited, it’s inflation.
The soaring costs of basic household necessities like food, heating oil, rent, baby formula, utilities, health insurance, and technology are costing families. One mother even sent Globe Santa a follow-up reminder to bring diapers. (Size 5.) People just can’t catch up. Instead, they’re falling further and further behind.
“As you know the economy and cost of living has been challenging for the entire country,’’ a single mother of a 9-year-old boy alerted Globe Santa in her letter.
Globe Santa does know, because of letters like these:
“Because of inflation and the rising cost to heat the house and the cost of food, it seems like toys will have to be put on the back burner.’’
“The cost of living is higher than last year, and prices are rising in an unimaginable way such as utilities, food, clothes, healthcare, and transportation. Providing essentials for the house, and for our family is becoming so difficult and challenging.’’
“With [health] insurance being $1050 per month…rent $2,300 monthly and [baby] formula at $80.00 per week, it is hard trying to meet our basic needs of food, lights, cell phone etc. each month. More than 50% of my total monthly income is going to health insurance.’’
“It is difficult to sugarcoat it,’’ said Brian Bethune, an economist and professor at Boston College. Although inflation in the Boston metro region slowed for the 12 months through September, people on very tight budgets are more likely to feel every incremental rise in prices.
“People may not have any sort of reserve. There is no contingency fund; a single car repair can set people back for months,’’ Bethune said.
These themes are reflected in the story that a mother of a 6-year-old boy shared with Globe Santa.
“It’s been a hard year, with the cost of groceries skyrocketing and everything else for that matter … I recently had a very big car repair which has taken any extra money I’d have for the next 12 months. I had to repair a clutch in my vehicle, which ended up costing me $2,200,’’ she wrote.
When the holidays come, these families are forced to make hard choices.
“It pains me to think that I have to decide between paying bills or getting Christmas gifts for my children,’’ wrote a mother of two. She’s the family “breadwinner’’ because her husband has a severe, undiagnosed stomach ailment that has kept him out of work.
“It would be a blessing to be able to pay my bills and be able to give him a special Christmas,’’ wrote the mother of a toddler. “I did my best to give him a great Christmas last year but had to put some bills to the side.’’
For nearly 70 years, the Globe Santa program has helped families find a way out of this predicament. It ensures that holiday gifts don’t have to be put on the back burner, as a little boy’s mother feared.
“Even though he’s a toddler I know he’ll enjoy opening gifts,’’ she wrote. “He knows how to say Wow! Thank you! Happy! So I know he will appreciate anything Globe Santa gives him. And it will relieve a lot of stress from my life and I will hopefully sleep better.’’
For 69 years Globe Santa, a program of the Boston Globe Foundation, has provided gifts to children in need at holiday time. Please consider giving by phone, mail, or online at
globesanta.org
.
Linda Matchan can be reached at linda.matchan@globe.com
