By Wayne Laepple
WATSONTOWN — Stephanie and her husband were flooded out of their home in 1996.
Six years later, they lost everything they owned in a fire.
“We were just starting to recover from that,” Stephanie said, “and now we have no money.”
It’s been another tough year for the couple and their 15-year-old daughter, but the family is moving forward. After being laid off in February, Stephanie returned to school to improve her skills. Ned’s hours at work are starting to return to normal after being reduced for most of the year.
“Money’s tight,” she said, “and everything costs more.”
“We’ve had to ask for help from the fund before,” said Stephanie, who is attending McCann School of Business and Technology, Sunbury, studying to become a paralegal. That’s been difficult for her, she said.
“It’s really hard, after being out of school for years,” she said. “It’s very intensive. Having to write a paper every couple of days and make speeches and all is hard.”
Her husband’s hours were slashed earlier in the year at his job in Lewisburg, she said. In the past, the family could count on overtime hours to help pay for the holidays and heating, but this year, he is just getting back up to a normal work week, and there is no overtime.
“Unfortunately, we have to apply for help again this year,” she said. “We’ll need the food and help with our heating bills.”
It will be a difficult Christmas for their daughter, too.
“She loves clothes, and she knows we just can’t afford much this year,” Stephanie said.
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 $13,068.
Recent donors are Jerry and Kim Soper, Selinsgrove, $500; William and Arlene Powers, Selinsgrove, $100; Margaret M. Bradley, Elysburg, $100; Oscar and Isabella Hoffman, Freeburg, $100; John L. Whitmer, Shamokin Dam, $100; and Sally E. Swope, Sunbury, $100.
Also, Gary and Susan Wentzel, Shamokin Dam, $75; Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Hassinger, Mifflinburg, $50; Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Spriggle, Richfield, $50; Jackie Piermattei, Sunbury, $50; James and Brenda Campbell, Shamokin Dam, $50; in memory of Dianna Fegley, by Josh Fegley, Selinsgrove, $50; and anonymous donations totaling $630.
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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
