Local charities, churches, and non-profits have reported seeing significant increases in demand for help this holiday season. While some may be growing tired of the pandemic, others are struggling to survive.
The less-told story during the pandemic has been the millions of families across the country that are struggling. Some of those families are right here in the Finger Lakes.
Sarah Brown is a Victor resident and mother of three. She lost three jobs when the pandemic began. Brown spoke with 13WHAM-TV about her experience, raising kids, and trying to make the best decisions possible.
“I feel like I’m literally watching my entire life just fall apart,” she said. “I can’t even pay the bills. I went through all my savings. I have nothing. I went through all my savings because I really had thought at least before Christmas that the government would do something to help people.”
Brown can’t even afford to buy groceries to stock up. And if a stimulus package is passed, as Congress appears poised to do, the $600 boost will help. But it will only go so far.
“I can’t afford to buy groceries to stock up to make sure we are safe and have food,” she told 13WHAM. “I can’t afford that. A stimulus check would make it so we can stock our refrigerators.”
The mother of three is trying her best. She’s in nursing school and hoping that she can get across the finish line while still providing for her family.
Stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment, and more PPP dollars could soon be approved (video)
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