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Bedding, clothes, toys for kids would help family Saturday Dec 10, 2016 at 2:00 AM Dec 10, 2016 at 12:18 PM Sarah Lemon for the Mail Tribune @thewholedish Editor's note: Light One Candle is an annual series sponsored by the Mail Tribune that focuses on an individual, group or agency who could use a helping hand during the holiday season. Once that need is filled, donations may be distributed to others in need. Education has helped to boost this mother of four out of drug addiction, but paying for school is weighing heavily on her hopes for completing a degree and giving her children a better future. Participation in Jackson County’s drug court program opened the door to full-time work that the Talent woman loves. She and her 29-year-old partner recently purchased a trailer to live in but lack a crib for their 6-month-old daughter and a toddler-size bed for their 2-year-old son. The youngest kids also need bedding, as do their 4- and 10-year-old brothers. Since attending Kids Unlimited’s charter school in Medford, the oldest boy has impressed teachers and staff with his progress, said Emily Freeman, director of Kids Unlimited’s Food for Thought Program. The mother, 34, is paying student loans, trying to improve her credit and saving toward buying a home, said Freeman. But an unpaid fee of $600 prevents the woman from enrolling in the last class required for her associate’s degree in business. Donations of clothing for the family and a special Christmas gift for each child would ease some of their financial burden. The baby, who is just learning to sit and crawl, wears size 9- to 12-month clothing and size-3 or larger diapers. The toddler, who loves stackable toys and music, wears size 3T. The 4-year-old boy wears size 5T, likes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and would be thrilled with a bicycle. The oldest boy wears men’s medium-size shirts, size-16 husky pants and wishes for outdoor survival gear. To help, call Freeman at 541-774-3900, ext. 102.