Family of six's home is a motel room - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

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Family of six's home is a motel room Friday Dec 22, 2017 at 12:01 AM 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. A single Medford motel room serves as this family of six’s home for the holidays. Gift cards for gas and groceries would allow them to save some funds toward adequate accommodations. The parents both work but have been unable to acquire stable housing since losing their rental residence in June. So the 37-year-old mother, 36-year-old father, 14- and 11-year-old sons and 8-year-old daughter crowd into one room augmented with a partial kitchen. They also shelter the mother’s aunt, who needs caregiving, said Emily Freeman of Kids Unlimited, where the kids attend after-school programs. Clothes and shoes are in short supply for the entire family. The 14-year-old boy wears adult size-30 pants, small/medium shirts and shoe size 9½. His younger brother wears size-12 clothing and shoe size 5½. Their younger sister wears size-8/10 clothing and shoe size 6. The aunt would love a long, warm coat, size XXL and size-9 shoes. A gift certificate toward having their car serviced would do much to ease the parents’ minds. Gift cards to Walmart, Winco and Food 4 Less would help to relieve some of their financial burden. To help, call Michelle at Kids Unlimited, 541-774-3900, or Freeman at 541-774-3900, ext. 102.