Holiday Partners, Empty Stocking Fund continuing holiday tradition of helping others

As a parent educator with York School District 1, Sheri Perez helps enroll financially fragile families in York County’s Holiday Partners program.

This year she registered her own grandchildren.

Holiday Partners is sponsored by United Way of York County in partnership with OTX Media/WRHI (AM 1340) Radio Station’s Toys for Happiness Program and The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund. Readers are asked to make monetary donations to The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund.

Last year your donations to these organizations helped ensure that 1,800 area children found presents under their tree on Christmas morning.

This Christmas, Perez’s grandchildren will be added to that list.

Perez is a single mom with three children -- 18, 15 and 12 years old - all living at home. Last spring, she gained temporary custody of her three grandchildren, ages 5, 4, and 1.

“They moved in with me in May. ... I’m not sure how long they will be here. There’s just a lot of uncertainty,” Perez said.

Thanks to Holiday Partners, Perez’s grandchildren can be certain Santa will come. Lucky for him, she says, they won’t be hard to please.

Her granddaughter would like anything unicorn. She’s obsessed with the one horned creatures, Perez says. Her four-year-old is a Power Rangers/Ninja Turtle fan. Her one-year-old could make good use of diapers and some sippy cups.

Perez says Holiday Partners takes much of the stress out of the holiday season, but she wants people to realize that there is need year round.

“This program is great for now, but I want people to remember that once the holidays are over, these same people will still have a power bill to pay, they will still have a car payment to make, and they will still have to put food on the table. It’s not easy,” Perez said.

She said she knows she is fortunate to have a good job and co-workers who are willing to help. She also knows many others aren’t as lucky. She wants those who are less fortunate to know there is help out there for struggling families, and there is no shame in asking for it.

“Until you get into this situation, you don’t realize how many other people are in the same place. I’m definitely not the only grandmother out there raising my grandchildren,” Perez said.

“There are plenty of other families struggling, and we are all just trying to do the best we can for our children and our grandchildren.”

Want to help?

To contribute to the Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund, the proceeds of which goes to support Holiday Partners, send donations to United Way, PO Box 925, Rock Hill, SC 29731.

To volunteer for Holiday Partners, visit www.unitedwayofyc.org or call 803-324-2735.

Holiday Partners collects toys throughout December. Some drop off locations include WRHI, United Way of York County SC Office, and all York County YMCA locations. A complete list of drop off sites may be found at www.wrhi.com/events/toys-for-happiness-2.