After surviving an abusive marriage, Winona, a 48-year-old mom of three grown children, turned to alcohol to cope. She lost her job and her housing and now lives out of her car. 

Winona asked Christmas for All to pay for just one month of car insurance. That $125 payment, a seemingly trivial amount to many, was an insurmountable obstacle for Winona. The small gift, made possible by community donations, gave Winona some much-needed security and bought her enough time to find work. 

This 43-year-old mom of three went through a divorce triggered by her former husband’s infidelity, followed by a string of abusive relationships. 

While healing from these experiences, Tara built a new foundation for herself and her family.

She also started an auto detailing business in Coeur d’Alene. She’s earning enough money to pay her expenses, but she fell behind on her electric bill. When her power was cut off, she couldn’t afford the late fees and reconnect fees to have it turned back on. 

An artist with an interest in abstract painting and antiques found himself without a home about six years ago.

Last December, Chris was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. With everything happening so fast, he delayed treatment because he didn't have a stable home to return to while going through chemotherapy and radiation.

Working with Heritage Health's Street Medicine program, Chris finally started his cancer treatment in June. His prognosis is positive; he is soon expected to be free of cancer.

Chris' request to Press Christmas for All was for help paying for housing the last month of his treatment.

Tragedy and trauma enveloped Shawn Sansaver in the wake of his 16-year-old daughter's death on New Year's Day nearly 18 years ago.

The pain was unbearable. Sansaver self-medicated with drugs and alcohol. He had money in the bank, so he took time off work.

“That turned into two years off work and broke and then homeless,” he said. “But with the help of Heritage Health, I’m doing a lot better.”

As the twins, now 4 years old, became mobile, stay-at-home mom Megan Quaid found it increasingly difficult to keep up with them both when she was alone. This was especially true for her son, Daxton, who has autism and a penchant for bolting away from his parents whenever he gets outside. 

Idaho Fence provided materials and the Quaid's community provided labor/

For years, while she was in the throes of addiction to alcohol, Sunnie Helling and her daughters lived with whoever would take them in. 

That changed after she entered the women’s recovery program at the Union Gospel Mission.

While working as a phlebotomist, “Julie” often watched the nurses around her and wondered if she could do the same thing.

The 30-year-old single mom wanted a career that would allow her to support her daughter on her own. 

When her former partner threatened her and stalked her, she sought help from law enforcement. Police referred her to a community resource that would transform her life. 

Kristen moved into Safe Passage last spring. There, she participated in a program that helped her see her worth for the first time. 

“Rebecca,” a widowed mom of three, has survived crises that would put anyone to the test — and then dug even deeper, finding the strength and courage to go back to school and build a better future for her family.

In the wake of tragedy, “Marissa” walked a dark path. Now she’s living proof that everyone has the capacity to change.

Marissa, 36, lost her husband to heart failure nearly 12 years ago. While he was hospitalized, their 5-week-old daughter caught the flu and came close to death. The trauma of these experiences badly affected Marissa.

“Before I got out [of prison], I found God,” she said. 

He served his country, beat cancer and fulfilled a prison sentence after multiple DUIs brought him to rock bottom.

Now, with the grace of redemption, Army veteran "Pete" gives his time to others to help them on their journeys of recovery and offers support and insight to keep them from going down the wrong path.

After a lifetime of addiction, mental illness and trouble with the law, 46-year-old "Patrick" is walking the long road to recovery. The path is sometimes rocky, but he’s not making the journey alone.

Patrick is participating in Mental Health Court, a voluntary, post-conviction diversion program for people living with severe and persistent mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

"It’s been a miracle," he said.

Through community donations, Christmas for All paid for Patrick’s eyeglasses. This gift enabled him to continue working and participating in Mental Health Court.

The young dad was given sole custody of his son after his ex, Ayden's mom, walked out on them following her failure to fulfill requirements set by Child Protective Services. Seth worked hard to provide for his son and be a good dad.

Press Christmas for All awarded Seth assistance to fix the air conditioner in his car after Open Arms staff realized he and the baby were coming in super early in the day to avoid driving in the peak hot hours.

After a tumultuous period marked by multiple moves, medical bills and a layoff, single mom “Brooke” is building a solid foundation for her 5-year-old son.

The assistance Brooke received from Press Christmas for All, fueled by community donations, made it possible for her to remain in Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho’s home ownership program. 

Selle, who had been a stay-at-home mom, found herself homeless with her children. She knew she had to take control of her future. 

“I wanted to build a life for me and my kids that no one could take from me,” she said. “I was tired of being dependent on others.” 

Press CFA team members asked our referring partners if they knew any clients whose children could benefit from an adventure that would build confidence and make for an exciting outdoor excursion.

Dogsmile Adventures, a therapeutic sailing nonprofit, answered the call for that experience, treating six children ages 10-16 to five days of sailing camp.

When "Bobby" first applied to CFA earlier this year, he was single and homeless, living at a St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho shelter.

Bobby lives with bipolar disorder, but his bike allowed him the freedom of mobility.

Through CFA and the Heritage Health Street Medicine program as a referring partner, Bobby received an electric bike to once again give him the independence to go to appointments and social events.

Widow rebuilds after tragedy. 

Aftering losing her husband, Teri worked to earn an education and rebuild her family's life. An unexpected bill nearly derailed White’s education. 

Working with several referring agencies, Charity Reimagined and Heritage Health found six people in the Kootenai County area who needed significant dental work done. Without hesitation, [Pam] Houser said they offered service to all six at no cost.

A hospital bed.

A Kroc Center membership.

A life transformed.

This story belongs to Ari Buntain, who, with a little help from Press Christmas For All and Charity Reimagined, is taking back her life after tragedy struck.

It's no easy task to gift wrap a washing machine or a set of brand new snow tires.

This article shares about the transformation CFA underwent in its approach to what and how it gives to make lifetime impact.

Five children, younger than 10. A past prepped with domestic abuse, trauma, and divorce. 30 year-old single mom forges ahead as a diesel teach student whose CFA request was for her chicken coop.

A little more than a year ago, Elisa Walker and her two young children became homeless.

“We had to live in our van for a few days,” she recalled.

As she rebuilt her life, she needed new tires to deliver newspapers in bad weather. 

If you buy a man a fish, he eats for one night. If you help purchase a brand new set of tires for a person in need, they can drive to the grocery store and buy a fish for years to come.

Fred Meyers, Silverlake Automotive area operations manager, reflects on experience with Press Christmas for all last year.

Two children younger than 5 were abandoned by their biological mom in a Walgreens parking lot with the adoptive parents of their biological cousin.

CFA provided a washer, dryer and deep freezer for Post Falls single dad Josh Walker and the large family he said "yes" to through foster care.

“Luke” and “Theresa” come from opposite sides of the tracks.

He was born into a privileged family —Christmases in Hawaii, private schools, the works — while she grew up poor, surrounded by drugs.

Tattoos can tell a life story.

So can their absence.

Post Falls resident Paul Myers knows that better than most.

Though Chloe supports herself financially, money is tight. Domestic violence left her with damaged vision and severe back problems, but she can’t afford glasses or physical therapy.

Assistance from Press Christmas for All would help her take care of her medical needs so she can continue working and studying for her GED.

Diana works full-time as a chef. Her twin sons, “Alex” and “Andrew,” are high school students and have part-time jobs at the same restaurant where their mom works. The boys freely give some of what they earn to their mom to help with the family’s expenses.

All three walk to work because the family’s only transport, a 1992 Subaru, has developed a leak in the radiator that makes it risky to drive. Diana can’t afford to repair the car.

“It’s on its last leg,” she said.

"Melanie's" kids were looking sharp and feeling great in new clothes the first day of the 2023-2024 school year.

It may not be a big deal for some families, but fresh outfits and shoes made a world of difference for single mama Melanie, her three teenage daughters and preschooler son.

"Joseph" is a college-educated man who worked in robotics until his health failed

and he was no longer able to work in his field. 

He didn’t just lose his health and his job — he lost everything else, too. After turning to alcohol, he became homeless for the first time in his life at 62 years old.

A single dad, “David” is fighting to get back on his feet after a life-threatening accident that left him in a coma.

Assistance from CFA would help David provide for his family until he moves into a permanent teaching position next year.

Bad luck has haunted "Terrance" since a long bout with COVID-19 knocked him to the ground in April 2020.

"Three jobs all stopped," he said.

His roommates pitched in to buy him a bus ticket to North Idaho so he could reunite with his elderly mom and find stable work. It wasn't long before things got worse.

"I lost everything on my 32-hour bus ride up here," he said.

Chronic illnesses have plagued "Cindy" and her husband "Harold" for quite some time.

New cookware was on their wishlist, as the pots and pans in their cupboards were old and falling apart. A gift from Press Christmas for All and Charity Reimagined, with help from referring partner Heritage Health, has made healthy living and eating a little easier for this senior couple.

It has been a long road for "Kara" and her young daughter, "Trinity."

Trinity has spent most of her little life fighting leukemia. Kara was unable to work while caring for her daughter until finally, earlier this year, Trinity's leukemia went into remission.

This is the story of single mom "Violet," who has overcome more hardships than anyone should have to in one lifetime.

Violet was married at a young age and welcomed her first baby into the world when she herself was still a child. Her daughter was born with a form of cerebral palsy that was a tough situation from the start. As a new mom, she was told her baby would have severe mental challenges.

Mental health issues tormented single dad Timothy as he struggled with addiction and recovery. This cycle separated father from child when Timothy suffered a relapse in 2021 and his son was taken into foster care.

Timothy entered Mental Health Court and made great strides with one goal in mind — to be reunited with his son.

A single mom recovering from addiction, “Lisa” has weathered many storms in her life.

After going through a custody battle over her now 3-year-old daughter, Lisa connected with Union Gospel Mission—and her life changed.

“I realized there was hope,” she said.

Newly single mom "Allison" has not been deterred in her mission to build a good life for her boy. She loves kids and is going to school to be a teacher. She just needed a new laptop to do her online schoolwork. Press Christmas for All and Charity Reimagined awarded Allison a laptop and Super 1 Foods gift cards to give her the ability to remotely work on school assignments and give her a financial buffer as she paid off her car insurance.

Mental and physical health issues, intermittent homelessness, a past history of drug use and incarceration and overall instability underscored every aspect of this family of six.

"We have been through so much adversity," said the mom, "Heather." "We still need support and help to rebuild our foundation."

This is the story of "Brandy," a North Idaho born-and-raised mother of a baby girl who has overcome a traumatic upbringing to forge ahead with a healthy, happy life with her partner and their child.

Brandy is unable to work because of her disabilities, but her partner works full time. Earlier this year, they were given a 30-day notice when the owners of their rental home sold the property. Finding affordable housing was not an easy task.

A broken rear window, a missing car jack and a check engine light that wouldn't turn off were financial hurdles for single mom "Sierra."

Two years ago, her life changed course when she graduated from rehab and was baptized into the Christian community. She went back to school to become a teacher and moved closer to the 9-year-old son she had lost touch with while in the throes of addiction.

This is the story of a couple — "Sam" and "Brett" — who never expected to be parents, but were blessed with an unexpected arrival that set them on an uncertain path while living in an RV and navigating North Idaho's housing crisis.

"I was told I would never have children," Sam said. "At six months we found out we were pregnant. Our world flipped upside down."

"Malcolm" was introduced to drugs at the tender age of 8.

He spent years in and out of jail, working with professionals to help manage his mental health issues, which include post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

He recently got his license, a newfound freedom to drive himself to work and therapy that soon turned sour when he realized the car he bought was a lemon, requiring new tires and other repairs.

After paying all the bills, "Rylee" and her husband, who works full-time, usually had about $30 left to spend.

This was before they welcomed their second baby into the world.

This is the story of "Mark," who struggled with substance use for a long time before finally finding his faith, embracing sobriety and becoming a contributing member of society.

Once Mark bucked the yoke of addiction, he became a caregiver for his ailing grandfather.

"I found myself not being able to find any housing," he said.

This is the story of a woman who loves bringing joy to families through art and giving back to her community.

In September 2021, Betsy underwent a miraculous double lung transplant. She spent the last year in recovery and is just now able to do little tasks.

She asked CFA and Charity Reimagined to assist with painting her house, as the exterior had fallen into disrepair. The project was physically and financially out of her reach.