SCRANTON -- Megan Langan is a mom of three.
"My daughters are 5 and 7, and my son is 13," she said.
Langan came to St. Luke's Episcopal Church in downtown Scranton with a humble request, a hand up in hopes that December will be a bit easier.
"On top of Christmas, my daughter's birthday is actually December 21, so it's a rough time," said Langan.
She's one of more than 1,000 moms and dads who will visit over the next week, applying for help from the Christmas Holiday bureau.
The group provides Walmart gift cards to families in need to buy food, clothes, or Christmas gifts. They need $75,000 to help every family who has applied.
"We are only about halfway to our goal at the moment," said Nancy Post, Christmas Holiday Bureau. "We are hoping to reach it so we can help all the families that have applied."
When they apply, parents can also pick up socks, gloves, and hats for their kids. The gift cards will be delivered closer to Christmas.
"A lot of them will come in with their kids and they will feel badly because they feel that they are not going to be able to provide Christmas for their children," said Post. "This is not a huge help but it certainly does ease the burden and make things a little bit easier for them."
It's not easy to ask for help, Megan admits, but being able to provide a Christmas is the best gift of all.
"There's no greater feeling in the world than seeing them on Christmas morning with what they want, and being able to give that to them."
Donations can also be sent to:
Christmas Holiday Bureau
829 Jefferson Avenue,
Scranton PA 18510
Or you can call 570-347-5616 to coordinate a pick up.