Betty thought she had it all figured out.
She was self-employed, starting her own house cleaning business. And she had a vision of expanding.
To make that happen, she applied for a small-business loan. She was approved for $60,000, with the money deposited into her bank account.
“That would have changed everything,” said Betty, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy.
But in May, things took a turn. The bank froze her account, saying they couldn’t verify her identity. A few days later they returned the loan money that had be deposited in the account.
At the same time, she faced an issue with her car loan. Her account was closed — she says she has no idea why — and that led to her losing her car and her credit score taking a hit.
Between losing the loan and her car, she has had to shutter her business, passing up a handful of lucrative contracts.
She said that not only has she faced challenges with her business, but also with her home. Just as she began facing problems with her loan, she moved out of the home she shared with her mom and her sister.
Because of business and car loan issues that have hurt her credit, she’s been unable to secure another place to live.
“It’s just like everything happened all at once,” she said.
Betty said she and her husband at first turned to hotels for a place for them and their combined five children to stay. But that was costly, especially since only her husband was working.
Recently, their children have moved in with friends and she and her husband have been staying with family.
The situation has been tough on Betty and her kids. She said the family is tight-knit, usually eating dinner together every night.
As the holidays rapidly approached, things weren’t getting any better.
“What I would really love is to just have us all together again,” she said between tearful gasps. “Really, that’s it. Just to have our kids smile, to be happy.”
But she said she knows providing a happy holiday for her kids is going to be tough without help. Which is exactly why Operation Holiday exists.
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 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.
