Life has never been easy for Kate. Growing up, money was tight as her single mother tried to provide for Kate and two other children. Their apartment was always cold in the winter and broiling hot in the summer, and Kate had nothing to wear but hand-me-downs. She has only faint memories of her father, who left the family when she was in elementary school.

But through it all, Kate's mother managed to scrounge enough money together so that each child had a few gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. Every other day of the year, she felt the effects of her mother's financial struggles, but on Christmas, she felt like a princess. It was her favorite time of year.

Today, Kate has two children of her own, an 8-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, and she so badly wants to make sure Santa visits her home, even though her income doesn't have room to accommodate it. Her children face the same hardships that she did as a child, but Kate wants to make sure they cherish the holiday season each year as she did.

For help, she turned to the Gazette Santa Fund, which is supported by the generous donations that roll in from the community through the holiday season. Kate is now able to give her children a magical and memorable Christmas, just like the ones she enjoyed as a child.

Every dollar donated to The Haverhill Gazette Santa Fund goes directly to help a Haverhill family at the holidays. Aid is distributed by Community Action Inc. and the Salvation Army.

To give, you may send a check payable to The Gazette Santa Fund, P.O. Box 991, Haverhill, MA 01831 or bring your donation to our office at 181 Merrimack St.

Someone will be in the Gazette office during the Christmas Stroll from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, to accept donations to the Santa Fund.