Nine years ago, Melissa was in a car crash that left her seriously injured and unable to work. She underwent 12 surgical procedures over the next few years. Eventually, she recovered well enough to return to work, and she started a new job in October 2007.

But less than a week into her new job, Melissa's place of work was robbed at gunpoint, and she was beaten up, suffering a brain injury, torn tendons in her arm and a broken rotator cuff. Again she found herself unable to work.

Now 49, Melissa lives on a fixed monthly income of $785 in disability payments from the state and $80 in food stamps. A caregiver helps her with daily tasks five hours a day, paid for by the federal Traumatic Brain Injury Program.

Melissa's income barely covers her basic expenses, and she still owes more than $3,000 in medical bills, for which she receives calls from collection companies. She has applied for assistance from every agency she can think of but has not yet received help with her bills. With a depressed immune system, she often falls ill and has been sick in recent weeks. She is asking for any help she can get in paying off her overdue bills. Case no. PMS-08-0024.


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.

Donors can request anonymity or ask that the amount of their donation not be published.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.

DONATIONS

Anonymous (2 donors), $3,000
Administrative Team at Santa Fe Preparatory School, $70
Richard Boyce, $100
Sheila Brown, in memory of Craig Othmer, $300
Mary Lou Cook, in memory of Maggy Ryan, $100
Davis Selected Advisers, $200
Prudential Foundation Matching Gifts, $100
Rotary Club of Santa Fe Foundation, $200
Rotary Club of Santa Fe Foundation, $4,000
Santa Fe Unit 383 ACBL, $74
Beth Schaefer, $200
Linda Teutsch, $150
Nancy Waight, $50
Bill Zwick, $100