MONROE - Christmas is a time of celebration and joy, but for those who struggling financially, it can be a time of hardship.
While others look forward to shopping, the long-term unemployed and others suffering amid the recession worry about how they will pay their bills and put food on the table.
According to Jeannie Blumer, Green County Economic Support supervisor, as of September, 3,701 people in the county received Food Share benefits so far this year. Another 5,922 people received medical assistance benefits.
Those numbers are markedly higher than the numbers for the same time last year, when 2,164 people received Food Share benefits and 4,570 received medical assistance.
Lynn, whose last name is being withheld at her request, is a Green County resident struggling to make ends meet, but she still believes things will turn around.
"When I get back on my feet, I want to help other people," she said.
The last couple of years have been hard for Lynn and her family. Major surgeries and being out of work at different times have compounded the difficulty - an all too common experience in an area with unemployment so high, for so long.
"For a while I wasn't eating so my daughter could," she said.
Indeed, it wasn't easy for her to talk about her problems. She said she was raised to take care of things - not ask for assistance and just get through whatever came her way.
Lynn looked for extra work, but when she would go to fill out an application, she found 25 to 50 other people applying for the same job.
"It isn't true that people don't want to work," she said. "People want to work, but places just aren't hiring."
In addition, many business pay minimum wage and limit the hours people work so the businesses don't have to pay benefits, she added.
Politicians in Washington and Madison just want to argue and aren't serious about helping people, she said.
It would be easy to become bitter and to give up. But she said she and her family aren't going to do that
Her family doesn't spend money unless it has too. They play board games and go to the public library to get books.
"I've worn out my library card," she said.
But it's hard to explain to a child why they can't have the same things their friends have and why they can't wear the same clothes as the other children in school.
"It's hard to say 'I don't have the money' to your child," she said.
Her daughter understands, Lynn said.
Sometimes, children can show the true meaning of Christmas and helping others without even realizing it. They can show others that people care.
Lynn's daughter recently took part in the "Shop with a Cop" program. She was able to spend up to $100 for gifts for her family at Walmart. She wasn't thinking of herself, though.
"She only bought $60 worth of gifts because she wanted to give the rest of her money to another child who needed it," Lynn said, her voice breaking slightly.
Just as her daughter wanted to reach out to help others, Lynn's friends have reached out to her.
"People have opened their hearts," Lynn said. "It helps just to have someone to talk to and to maybe cry with."
Lynn also reached out to the county for assistance. She learned there are many programs available for people who need help: All she had to do was ask for help.
"I did what I had to do," she said.
Things are a little better, now that the family is receiving assistance.
She looks forward to the day when they no longer need help.
Lynn tries to stay optimistic and hopes for better days ahead.
"You can't dwell on everything that's gone wrong," she said. "We're healthy, we have friends and a roof over our heads.
"That's more than a lot of other people have."
While others look forward to shopping, the long-term unemployed and others suffering amid the recession worry about how they will pay their bills and put food on the table.
According to Jeannie Blumer, Green County Economic Support supervisor, as of September, 3,701 people in the county received Food Share benefits so far this year. Another 5,922 people received medical assistance benefits.
Those numbers are markedly higher than the numbers for the same time last year, when 2,164 people received Food Share benefits and 4,570 received medical assistance.
Lynn, whose last name is being withheld at her request, is a Green County resident struggling to make ends meet, but she still believes things will turn around.
"When I get back on my feet, I want to help other people," she said.
The last couple of years have been hard for Lynn and her family. Major surgeries and being out of work at different times have compounded the difficulty - an all too common experience in an area with unemployment so high, for so long.
"For a while I wasn't eating so my daughter could," she said.
Indeed, it wasn't easy for her to talk about her problems. She said she was raised to take care of things - not ask for assistance and just get through whatever came her way.
Lynn looked for extra work, but when she would go to fill out an application, she found 25 to 50 other people applying for the same job.
"It isn't true that people don't want to work," she said. "People want to work, but places just aren't hiring."
In addition, many business pay minimum wage and limit the hours people work so the businesses don't have to pay benefits, she added.
Politicians in Washington and Madison just want to argue and aren't serious about helping people, she said.
It would be easy to become bitter and to give up. But she said she and her family aren't going to do that
Her family doesn't spend money unless it has too. They play board games and go to the public library to get books.
"I've worn out my library card," she said.
But it's hard to explain to a child why they can't have the same things their friends have and why they can't wear the same clothes as the other children in school.
"It's hard to say 'I don't have the money' to your child," she said.
Her daughter understands, Lynn said.
Sometimes, children can show the true meaning of Christmas and helping others without even realizing it. They can show others that people care.
Lynn's daughter recently took part in the "Shop with a Cop" program. She was able to spend up to $100 for gifts for her family at Walmart. She wasn't thinking of herself, though.
"She only bought $60 worth of gifts because she wanted to give the rest of her money to another child who needed it," Lynn said, her voice breaking slightly.
Just as her daughter wanted to reach out to help others, Lynn's friends have reached out to her.
"People have opened their hearts," Lynn said. "It helps just to have someone to talk to and to maybe cry with."
Lynn also reached out to the county for assistance. She learned there are many programs available for people who need help: All she had to do was ask for help.
"I did what I had to do," she said.
Things are a little better, now that the family is receiving assistance.
She looks forward to the day when they no longer need help.
Lynn tries to stay optimistic and hopes for better days ahead.
"You can't dwell on everything that's gone wrong," she said. "We're healthy, we have friends and a roof over our heads.
"That's more than a lot of other people have."