Estacada, Oregon

I am a single mother of 4 wonderful children. I work at a Montessori school where I care for infants. 2017 has been an incredibly difficult year for me financially, struggling for most of the year. I have been 3 months behind on my mortgage for most of the year and am trying hard to avoid foreclosure and falling any further behind. This is a home that I have lived in for 18 years. For the first time, the school I work for decided to close for 2 weeks at Christmas with no pay. I was so upset as this would have been the check I pay my mortgage with. This caused severe anxiety, so severe I often caught myself holding my breath.

I did receive a small bonus from our parents at work, which I appreciate so much. Then this happened. Money showed up on my porch by a man dressed in a grinch costume, wishing us a Merry Christmas. I can’t even convey how overwhelming this generous gift is to me and my family. The extra Christmas money and the money from the Christmas jar will go towards paying my mortgage at the end of this month.

I am grateful beyond words for the wonderful person that gave my name to these people with big hearts. I hear they do this every year.<3. I hope to be able to do the same for someone next year.

with immense gratitude,
penny