Air Force veteran worries this time

Mother of two is limited in her income, choices

Seven-month-old Sean Bollwage of Largo, Fla., had his first encounter yesterday with Globe Santa, who collected donations and greeted shoppers at Downtown Crossing. Every dollar donated to Globe Santa is used to pay for gifts for children in need. (TASLIM SIDI for the boston globe)

Somewhere out there is an 11-year-old girl who still believes in Santa Claus but unfortunately does not live in her own home.

This girl lives in a shelter with her younger brother, who is 3 months old, and her mother, an Air Force veteran.

The mother is unemployed and spends nearly all of the $342 she gets each month on diapers and other things needed for the baby, often, as she writes, leaving her daughter with the "short end of things."

In a letter among more than 16,000 recently received by Globe Santa, the mother wrote about her daughter. "The other day she asked me if he [Santa] was going to be able to find her here. I tried to assure her that of course he will.

Santa knows where all the good little boys and girls are. But at the same time I was panicking inside trying to figure out how to provide her and her brother with a good Christmas."

She no longer needs to panic.

The family from south of Boston will be visited by Globe Santa, thanks to the generous donations of thousands of dollars that Globe Santa has received each year to provide gifts for the children caught in situations like this 11-year-old girl.

Since 1956, the Globe Santa program has helped thousands of families each year enjoy the holidays without having to worry about finding money to buy presents.

For so many parents, their children's happiness on Christmas morning is all they want to see.

"They're all I am worried about," the mother wrote. "I can go without a lot of things, but to keep my little girl believing in Santa is one of the greatest gifts I can receive."

Every dollar donated to Globe Santa is used to pay for the gifts; administrative costs are paid for by the Boston Globe Foundation.

By donating to the drive this year, you can become one of Santa's Friends and bring holiday warmth to thousands of Greater Boston families seeking help this Christmas.

"It is very hard for me to ask for help being a veteran of the Air Force," the mother wrote.

"I am sometimes ashamed to admit that I need help and that this is the state of my life right now. But to make my children happy I have learned to just accept that. Sometimes things just happen and you need to make the best out of the situation. . . .

Everyone at one time or another needs a helping hand," she wrote.

Santa's Mailbox
There are four ways you can give.

You can drop off your donation at the Improv Asylum, 216 Hanover St., Boston (North End) at any evening performance or during business hours Helping needy families share the spirit of the holiday season.

© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.