[getmylifeback]

As bad as I hate to ask it is not one of tt all those things I like to do... but along with my pride that all went out the door. I need help christmas is coming and I know I will not have the money to do for my two kids. Is there anyone out there that knows how I can get help for my family this christmas?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Pick up a second job. And Get in contact with Toys for Tots.

[saprophilous]

I looked around and found this:

"Go to: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse

For children, contact your local Toys for Tots to request toys. Go to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation... and select Arkansas, and it will give you a list of contacts for local campaign sites where you can request toys for your own children or someone else's.

Unfortunately, there's no centralized spot to find information about your local charities -- not even the phone book (mine only lists two). And those don't do a good job of explaining what services the charities offer or who's eligible, so it's more or less a crapshoot when it comes to finding help. You'll have to make more than a few phone calls. (That's my biggest pet peeve concerning private charities -- when people actually need to use their services, they can be difficult or impossible to find. So I know how frustrated you must feel.)

I'd start with United Way. If a computer is handier than a phone book, go to Find a Local United Way Organization and input your zip to find your local United Way. They are affiliated with many charities, so they should be able to direct you to quite a few that can help. Also, try some local churches.

You're likely to encounter some humbugs, but if you call enough places I'm sure a few people will find it in their hearts to be kind and respectful to you. Don't give up. Millions of people give billions of dollars every year to charities so that people who need help can get it. So don't let a few small-minded grinches prevent you from getting what we all want you to have.

Best wishes and Happy Holidays"

You may be able to come up w/ some creative trades as well:
SwapThing

[twinkiedooter]

You may also qualify for the financial help (so it's maybe $10 a month) from the phone company. This depends on your yearly income and if you fall below a certain level of poverty (which more and more of us are falling into these days) you qualify to have the Federal and State taxes paid for you. Contact your local phone provider for this info. It's a good plan to get on and yes, you can still have the Internet connection (even DSL) and not get booted from the program. In a year's time that adds up to about $150+ give or take.

If you belong to a church, you may want to speak to them about some sort of help. I know the Salvation Army is a good resource also. If you are behind on your electric bill they have a one time financial help on that. Worth checking into if you get behind.

The HEAP (Help with Electric Heating Program) is usually paid to your electric provider and it takes a few months for that payment to show up (usually in the spring), so don't count on instant money from them, but it's a good plan to apply for. If someone in the household is over 60, extra benefits are added. Also children in the household can add to this benefit amount also.

Try and find a second job is probably the best advice right now.