NJ-2026-0008: Single mother of two sons with autism, between jobs after her employer suddenly closed

FAMILY BACKGROUND:
A single mother is raising her two sons, a 7-year-old and a 6-year-old who are both on the autism spectrum, in an apartment in Hackensack. For years she ran a small in-home daycare so she could provide for her family and be there for her boys, until she had to close it. She started over working with children in the ABA field, and then the company she worked for suddenly closed, leaving her without a job or time to prepare. Finding another job has been hard, because her sons' school schedules, therapies and appointments mean she has to be available for them, and she is doing everything she can to find work that fits. There are times she has to choose between paying rent and buying food or medicine. She is used to being the one who works and provides, and asking for help is not easy, but she is putting her pride aside for her boys. She does not want them to feel the weight of the family's money worries, and she wants them to wake up during the holidays with the same excitement as other children. A sponsor's help this Christmas would give her some breathing room and let her boys simply be children.

CITY: Hackensack, NJ 07601
STATE: New Jersey
COUNTY: BERGEN
HOUSEHOLD SIZE: 3
HEALTH CONDITIONS IN HOUSEHOLD: Autism; Developmental or learning disability, including ADHD
HOW THE FAMILY CAN RECEIVE GIFTS: Delivered in person by the sponsor and/or the Operation Holiday team; Delivered by Santa Claus

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD:
Age: 36
Sex: Female
Clothing Size: Women's 6
Shoe Size: Women's 6
Wishlist: Winter coat, winter clothing, sneakers, snow boots, gift card

CHILD #1:
Age: 7
Sex: Male
Clothing Size: Kids 7
Shoe Size: Youth 1
Wishlist: Hot Wheels cars, garbage trucks, whipped slime, winter coat, snow boots, sneakers, winter clothes, bike, hat and gloves

CHILD #2:
Age: 6
Sex: Male
Clothing Size: Kids 7
Shoe Size: Youth 1
Wishlist: Number blocks 13-20, winter coat, winter clothes, snow boots, bike, hat and gloves