When Betty moved back to Colorado Springs earlier this year with her family, the job her husband thought he had lined up fell through.

"My husband has been looking for work like crazy. He's even had trouble at McDonald's and other fast food restaurants - they're not hiring," she said.

The family, with two children, has been without a car, so Betty's husband is looking for a job near home, even walking several miles, stopping at restaurants and retail shops to try to find work, she said. He's had no luck.

Betty is pregnant, has diabetes and stays home to care for their youngest child. Without a paycheck, they fell two months behind in rent and were served eviction papers.

They turned to Ecumenical Social Ministries, a charity founded by a network of churches to care for low-income, homeless and unemployed families.

ESM is one of 14 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund. The agency's services include a food pantry, clothing, help with rent or utilities, job placement, counseling and educational programs.

ESM is the community's largest emergency-service provider for families in need.

The agency paid $200 toward Betty's overdue rent. When she and her husband appeared in court for the eviction hearing, the $200 saved them from eviction, Betty said.

"We're trying to do what we can to get the bill paid off. We weren't trying to ignore it," Betty said. "As long as we keep in touch with the manager of the apartment and show my husband is looking for a job, we can stay."

This was Betty's second time using ESM. The first was when she and her husband were newlyweds about a decade ago, and he was out of work temporarily. They couldn't pay rent, and ESM paid a month's rent for them.

"I'm just grateful they're there. They're the type of people that understand bad things happen. Sometimes you go into a place for help and they treat you like dirt," she said.

"The woman at ESM didn't once look down on us. I felt comfortable talking to her, and it meant the world to me. It makes it easier to deal with your problems when you feel like you actually matter."

TO DONATE

Make a secure donation at www.fillanemptystocking.org. Call 476-1673 to make a credit card or stock donation over the phone. Checks can be made payable to the Empty Stocking Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 400, Colorado Springs, CO 80901.