WASHINGTON – Amanda and her husband were forced to move out of their rental home last year after he lost his job in construction. The family of six ended up at a homeless shelter in D.C., where they have been living since January.
Christmas this year wasn’t looking great for her four children when she decided to call in to WTOP’s Talkback line Saturday morning to answer the question: What did your kids ask for this year from Santa? And, do your kids have any last minute request for Santa?
This is what she left on the Talkback line:
“I wish that my children have a very merry Christmas because our family has recently been in a homeless shelter and our resources are low this year. And I hope that my children are happy with the Christmas that they receive and understand that even though its dollar store toys, we hope that they have a merry Christmas.”
In a matter of minutes of playing Amanda’s message over the radio, WTOP received numerous emails and phone calls from listeners offering their help to Amanda and her family.
One email from a listener in Silver Spring read: “Amanda says she and her family are in a shelter so they may have plans for Christmas dinner through the shelter. But maybe we could help treat them to a New Year’s dinner … I would like to purchase or help purchase a gift certificate for them to have a nice dinner out together.”
Another email read: “I’m afraid I don’t have any stellar ideas but want to help. What area do they live in? How old are the kids? Pls let me know, and God bless you for making a difference for this family.”
Still another read: “Just heard you on the radio. Is there any way to get Christmas dinner to Amanda and her family? We would like to help.”
One listener offered rooms in her home to the family.
WTOP reporter David Burd contacted Amanda and let her know about the offers of help.
“The outpouring of concern for Amanda has reminded us all what this season is all about,” Burd said in a follow-up report.
Amanda says she has been contacted by several people, all of whom would like to help make the family’s Christmas better. One man emailed her some e-gift cards, while others have asked about the children’s ages and clothing size to send them gifts.
“I was shocked that people wanted to help because that wasn’t even why I called in,” she says.
Amanda says she called in hoping her children would learn the real meaning of Christmas this year, given the family’s financial situation.
“It takes everything we have to do what we can for the kids,” she says. “It’s taken its toll on the kids, but they understand.”
She has a 3-year-old boy, a 4-year-old girl, 6-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl.
While Amanda attends nursing school, her husband searches for another job in construction.
“He gets up everyday faithfully, goes and puts in applications and looks for a job,” she says.
She is thankful to all the WTOP listeners who reached out to her and her family this Christmas.
WTOP’s David Burg contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
