By ANNETTE RUSSELL
Los Alamos

I am reaching out to ask for help in creating hope for a very special family. Hope to get through a very difficult time and hope for a successful future.

We are asking for your help in assisting a single mother, of two boys 12 and 6 years old and four foster teens: three girls ages 19, 18 and 17 and a boy age 14.

The teens were living in hotels and in a vehicle, on and off for years before they were abandoned by their mother who left the state. None of the kids had been to school full time in the last two years so fell behind. With some stability, consistency and hope, they are all making progress.

The oldest, Sissy is taking classes through a home-school program so she will graduate in Spring 2025.  She just got her driver’s license and is saving and needing a car to go back and forth to college. Lala just took her senior pictures and will graduate in May 2025 also. Sissy and Lala have part-time jobs and big dreams of college and airline school. The third girl, Ana is a junior this year and doing well in school. The teenage boy Kaeden is in middle school and making progress.

This year the mother, Natisha, was left to tend for herself, the six kids and all the household bills. Without having the resources and limited beds, she and her sons have embraced the teenagers and the challenge. 

This month, legal guardianship was granted. Financial support has been minimal to none from the state.

Natisha stopped working for part of this year to manage the home and all the differing school and work schedules, help them get enrolled in school, get their driver’s licenses, etc. Natisha just started working a full-time job at Sprouts.

We reach out to you to ask for any type of gift or donation to help this family of seven have a better holiday; but also, so they can buy the necessities of clothes during these cold months, jackets, towels and necessities for the home, etc. Groceries as well all know are very expensive.

It is hard to give sizes and know what to buy clothes wise. However, gift cards (H&M, Old Navy, JCPenny, Sam’s Club or Walmart), money to buy groceries and household items would be greatly appreciated.

Any little or big gesture will make a difference in this family’s lives.

Anyone wishing to donate can mail items to:

Natisha Sandoval & Family
P.O. Box 29524
Santa Fe, NM 87592

For more information, call 505.629.9584.

Happy Holidays.