By Amanda O’Rourke
MILTON — Mickie struggled over the years providing for herself and her two children, 12-year-old Sharanda and 9-year-old Dustin.
Times are even more difficult this year as she’s taken in her sister, Coca, and her sister’s 3-month-old son, Kayden.
“She’s just a single mom, and she’s going through some medical issues, postpartum depression,” Mickie said. “So I just told her that she needed to come live with me and let me help her.”
The family of six, including Mickie’s fiance, David, live together in a mobile home in Milton.
“My fiance can’t find a job. My mental disorders don’t allow me to work,” Mickie said. “I’m a welfare recipient and taking it day by day.”
Mickie hopes the Needy Family Fund can provide her family with a Christmas meal and a few gifts under the tree for the kids.
“It’s very difficult for me,” she said. “My depression really kicks in around the holidays. Like every mom out there, I want to provide them with a nice Christmas and I never can, and this year, with the economy being the way it is, I just can’t do anything.”
The Needy Family Fund, sponsored by The Daily Item, Sunbury Broadcasting Corp. and Susquehanna Bank, in cooperation with Salvation Army citadels in Sunbury and Milton, raises money to help the less fortunate in the Valley during the holidays.
Today’s balance stands at $8,078.
Recent donors are David and Sue Ellen Castellan, Lewisburg, $500; Jane G. Norton, Lewisburg, $300; Kevin C. Willey and family, Lewisburg, $200; Sidney and Martha Ocker, Sunbury, $100; William J. Etris, Lewisburg, $100; and Melanie and Charles J. McCollum, in memory of Charles F. McCollum, Elysburg, $50.
Also, Sylvia Gleason, Lewisburg, $50; Nelson, Dean and Esther Minium, Milton, $50; Craig and Sally Rothermel, Mifflinburg, $50; Carole and Stephen Mazzeo, Sunbury, $50; Stacie and Michael Gillespie, in memory of Sharon Guyer, Noblesville, Ind., $40; Ruth Burrell, Sunbury, $25; and anonymous donations totaling $871.
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Needy Family Fund
Donations go to buy food, clothing and gifts for the less fortunate in the Valley. Contributions are tax-deductible. The fund is sponsored by The Daily Item, Sunbury Broadcasting Corp. and Susquehanna Bank. Contributions may be taken to any Susquehanna Bank office or mailed to:
Needy Family Fund
Susquehanna Bank
400 Market St.
Sunbury, PA 17801
2009 goal: $75,000
