LIMA — We’ve seen throughout our Empty Stocking stories where someone’s drug abuse has torn apart families.
Nicole, 28, of Lima, found out the hard way, with a spouse that hit bottom. She and her three children are paying the price.
“My soon-to-be ex-husband’s mom passed away and he just kind of went downhill from here. He got into heroin and it just kind of spiraled. We lost our farmhouse that we had in Wapak. I lost my car. We lost everything when he got into that [heroin]. He’s overdosed like eight times … tried to get help for him, I guess it’s just not the right time for him now,” she said.
He lost his job because of his drug use and she was working for a while until she lost the car and couldn’t work anymore because of a lack of transportation. Without a car, she can’t get a job, and without a job she can’t afford a car.
She and her children, Jean, 12, Keith, 10, and Ross, 8, now live with Nicole’s mom.
“She’s kind of helping me out here. [Things] just kind of spiraled out of control the last couple of years,” she said. “That’s why I went through the Salvation Army, trying to get a little bit of help. It’s just not the year for us, I guess. Last year was OK. I was working last year for Christmas but this year, without a car I’m just not having any luck at all. I just knew without that [help from the Salvation Army] they [the kids] really weren’t going to have much of anything this year because I can’t do it. My mom and dad’s trying to help me out as much as they can.”
She wants her children to have a decent Christmas. They all need clothing.
“The boys definitely need pants. Keith is in 10-12 pants and medium shirts. Ross is anywhere between 8 and 9s in pants and medium shirts. They both wear size 4 shoes. They could definitely use some shoes, that’s the big thing,” she said.
Jean, the 12 year old, needs clothing.
“She’s in 10-12 girls youth pants and then her shirts is medium size and she takes size 7 in shoes and she needs a coat,” Nicole added.
Keith and Ross like Nintendo video games and both enjoy Lego. Ross is into anything Pokemon. Jean would also like arts and crafts items and maybe a camera.
Mom Nicole needs shoes size 8, and pants size 5 or 6 and medium shirts.
“A few things under the tree would be better than nothing,” Nicole said.
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