Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly: Diabetes Strikes Hard at Christmas

For those living with Diabetes, life is a daily challenge. For "Mary", a single mother of three, there are days it seems impossible. With the medical expenses and threat of complications lingering overhead everyday, Mary struggles to make ends meet for her family of four. When life got tough, the father of the children decided he wanted a simpler life and left the family with no forwarding address. "Mary" works hard at two part-time jobs to protect her children from the effects of poverty, but the holidays bring with them new expenses and concern. "Mary" wants a her children to continue to believe in the magic of the season and feel that they are worthy of Santa's "Nice List"! Her daughters, age 6 and 4,enjoy dancing and would like a music player with age appropriate CDs. They also like playing baby dolls and have added a doll house to their list this holiday season. Her son, age 3, likes to play baseball and would like a small Tee-ball set and legos.

As an elderly, living with Diabetes brings with it years of struggle, illness, and pain. "Tony" lives his days confined to his home with no family nearby to help him in his daily living. With a limited income and growing medical bills, just finding extra money at the end of the month for soap, razors, and kleenex can be a challenge. "Tony's" Christmas list includes gift cards for prescriptions at Walmart, slippers (Men's size 11), razors and shaving cream, toothbrush and toothpaste, and XL flannel shirts.