After escape from abusive marriage, mother seeks help for young twins

Globe Santa, who has already received more than 17,000 requests for assistance this Christmas season, greeted Officer Steve Hogan and Magnus yesterday on Boylston Street. (TASLIM SIDI FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE)

After years in an abusive marriage, a mother of three from Boston decided last summer that the time had finally come for a change.

But as she struggles through a painful and bitter divorce, she says she lives with the fear that a court order mandating her husband to stay away from them will not be enough to keep the family safe.

He has already been arrested once for violating the restrictions.

"It has been extremely hard on the children," she wrote in her letter to Globe Santa seeking his help in providing Christmas gifts for her children.

While free from the nightly fights that often led to panicked late-night trips to stay with friends or relatives, she adds she is now a single mother struggling to find a job and stave off eviction from their home.

Her letter continues to tell how she has also sought spiritual help from her local parish to cope with the nightmare that her life became, particularly in the last two years.

Despite the turmoil, what's foremost on her mind as the weather turns cold and Christmas lights appear along the block is how she will avoid having her 8 year-old twins think that Santa Claus forgot about them.

"I am unable to provide for them this holiday season," she wrote. "If you could supply just one present each, it would mean a lot."

The twin brother and sister have leaned heavily on their older brother, who is 14 and has encouraged their love of music and dance. Their mother worries that her oldest son is missing out on some of his own childhood, however, and has gone to great lengths to make sure he has time to be a "typical teenager."

They take walks together and talk about school and sports and girls, but she worries that it can't replace the guidance she wishes his father was capable of giving. Because he is too old for Globe Santa's help, she has set aside something special for him this Christmas, but shudders at the thought of her twins being left out.

"I'm trying to make sure that they have at least a few presents to open on Christmas morning," her letter concluded.

Thanks to Globe Santa and the kindness of the thousands of individuals, families, groups, and others who give to the campaign, these young twins will know this Christmas that Santa Claus remembered them, too.

Since 1956, Globe Santa has been helping families who celebrate Christmas in the Santa Claus tradition but cannot afford gifts for their children.

Globe Santa's mail bin this season is already bursting with more than 17,000 requests for assistance, well ahead of last year's pace.

In 2007, more than $1.1 million was raised, and toys were delivered to 57,079 children in 29,379 households.

Because the Boston Globe pays all the administrative costs associated with the campaign, every dollar donated to the fund drive is used to purchase and deliver presents.

Contributions are needed to ensure that all the Eastern Massachusetts families asking for Globe Santa's help can count on him to pay them a visit this Christmas, so please consider giving to the campaign and becoming one of Santa's Friends.