While immigrating to a new country can provide new opportunities, it can also bring a new set of challenges.
Tariq is a married father of three who moved his family to the United States from the Middle East in 2009. While struggling with the language barrier and employment, he suffered a series of severe health issues. After receiving a liver transplant in 2016, he was diagnosed with skin cancer, which he believes is a side effect of his post-transplant medication. Despite his condition, he was disenrolled from Social Security disability.
“They said to me you don’t have a problem; you can work,” he said.
While battling skin cancer, Tariq works full-time to provide for his family. His wife is prevented from working due to her own health issues, including varicose veins in her legs.
“She can’t stand up for a long time,” he said. “She would work, but she’s in pain.”
As the family’s sole breadwinner, Tariq has struggled to cover his family’s rising expenses, noting that his income has not kept pace with the cost of living.
“After Corona, after Russia, everything is expensive,” he said. “Sometimes I need more money and have to stretch it from month-to-month.”
Tariq and his family currently live in a cramped two-bedroom apartment, a problem for his 17-year-old daughter who must share a bedroom with his two sons.
“She’s shy to change her clothes in the same room as my sons,” he said. “It’s no good. She needs a private room for herself.”
While yearning for a larger apartment for his daughter, Tariq ultimately hopes for a better life for his family.
“I want us all to have a good Christmas and good life together,” he said.
Operation Holiday
Operation Holiday was started in 1991 at The Mercury in Pottstown to help families going through tough times provide something for their children during the holidays. The mission of the program is to make sure there is food on the table and gifts under the tree when Christmas morning comes.
Now in its 33rd year, the program has served thousands of families throughout Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties, expanding its reach in recent years to include communities served by Reading Eagle, The Times Herald, The Reporter, and Daily Local News.
More than $91,000 in donations last year provided food and gifts for 451 children and 199 families, plus cash donations to food pantries in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 19 agencies in the tri-county area. Agencies have referred 165 families with 419 children for gifts and food. There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay local. Funds are collected and audited in a nonprofit foundation account managed by staff of MediaNews Group who volunteer their time.
Gift cards to area grocery stores are provided to each family for food, so that they can purchase the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry. Weis Markets is a partner with Operation Holiday and has assisted with food purchases and gift cards.
Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies so that families can purchase gifts of their choice.
Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency.
Operation Holiday is funded solely by reader contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.
HOW TO DONATE
Online donations are being accepted in a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Visit https://tcnetwork.org and click on the link for Operation Holiday.
Contributions can be mailed with checks payable to Operation Holiday to P.O. Box 1181, Pottstown PA 19464; The Reporter, 307 Derstine Ave., Lansdale PA 19446; Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607.
