Bobby, 29, suffered a fractured vertebra in a car wreck two months ago. He is scheduled to have surgery in January, but at this point, he is unable to work. He has applied for disability benefits and is awaiting the outcome of his application.

Bobby and his wife, 31-year-old April, receive $357 a month in federal assistance and $262 in food stamps. It is not enough to cover expenses for themselves and their infant daughter. Recently April's eyeglasses broke and she needed to get an eye exam and new glasses. She and Bobby have been juggling bills, but they have not been able to pay the optician's bill of $533 and a water bill of $56.

With disability benefits, the couple believes they will be able to get by on their own. For now, they are asking for help paying these two overdue bills. Case No. TSA-003.



 

To donate to the Empty Stocking Fund, checks for any amount should be made out to The New Mexican's Empty Stocking Fund and mailed to the Santa Fe Community Foundation at P.O. Box 1827, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1827, 988-9715 ext. 0.

Donors can request anonymity or ask that the amount of their donation not be published. These requests should be included with the check. Otherwise, donors' names and gifts will be published in The New Mexican.

All donations are tax deductible. For gifts to be deductible for this year's taxes, your envelope must be postmarked by Dec. 31.

Donations of firewood, furniture, appliances or other items should be dropped off at The Salvation Army. For large items, The Salvation Army can send a truck to pick up donations.

Empty Stocking applications are available weekdays, except Dec. 24 and 25, at the Santa Fe Salvation Army offices, 525 West Alameda St., and at the PMS Head Start office, 1409 Second St., near the intersection of Cerrillos Road. Applications will be available until noon on Dec. 31.

For more information, call The Salvation Army at 988-8054 or PMS at 983-8968. Or visit the Web site www.santafecf.org and click on the "Give Now" link to make a donation to the Empty Stocking Fund.






Anonymous donor, $75

Patricia Bott, $100

Neal Devitt, $200

Jacob Frenkel, $100

Robert Haight, $100

Hair Affair, $100

Sally Marsh, $100

Margaret Norton, $50

Steven A. Rasmussen, $250

Terry and Patty Sciarrotta, $200

Elizabeth Sperlich, $50

Joseph Stampfer, $75

Patricia Tremblay, $50

UCC Search Inc., $200

David Van Winkle, $25



Today's total: $1,675

Total to date: $137,143.74