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Michaela Muscat
A number of MaltaToday readers certainly lived out their Christmas spirit this year. As a reaction to the story “Here’s something you can’t understand”, published on Christmas Day about two poverty-stricken households, several readers expressed their wish to donate money and goods to these families.
“You have no idea how much stuff from the hamper we ate during the holidays,” Lara, a single mother of three, said. “It was incredible receiving all the pasta, orange juice, and the miniature chocolates amongst other things.”
Being a mother of a four, six and nine-year-old makes it impossible for Lara to work. She has to support her brood as well as her mother who lives with them, on just Lm128 a month.
Fr John Avellino, the priest who divided the goods between the two families had to manage a number of donations this year. “Five years ago I had set up a bank account for donations. The parish priest and I always verify that the cases are genuine first then we hand out money accordingly.” Fr John explains that handing out lump sums of money is not the way to go about helping these families. “We prefer buying specific things for them like a washing machine or else giving them money to pay off the electricity bill.”
Either way, these families are pleased with the system and Lara sings praise for Fr John. Her adorable three children are running about the miniscule kitchen. Hearing a new voice is exciting for them as chickenpox kept the entire family cooped up at home for the entire holidays. “It was a good Christmas this year even though we had to stay inside,” Lara says.
Sue, the mother of five children who is currently battling with severe depression is extremely grateful for the fridge donated to her and her husband Stephen. “This fridge is great. It’s much bigger than the other fridge we had because nothing used to fit in it,” Sue said, referring to their previous tiny, damaged fridge, that was unable to close due to an unhinged door. This family also has to live on a paltry sum. Sue is too disturbed to work and her husband has been unable to find a job.
Still, basics like rent, electricity, food and beverages have to be paid. And it is hard to manage with a meagre Lm212 a month.
Dealing with the wanton depravity and abuse that she had been subjected to by her mother is clearly not easy for Sue. Unable to find words to describe the horror she had to endure she often bursts into tears. Jaded and worn-out, Sue describes Christmas as “being the usual thing – always at home.” Throughout the whole conversation, she repeats: “thank you, thank you for all the gifts,” not wanting to sound ungrateful.
In spite of all the much-appreciated aid, Sue seems to be unable, to come to grips with herself as the demons of her past inevitably darken her present-day life.
Names of people have been changed to protect their identity
mmuscat@mediatoday.com.mt
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