EMPTY STOCKING: Woman appreciates prayers that come with aid

Of all the assistance offered to Julia by Northern Churches Care over the past eight years — the prescriptions it paid for, the food it donated, the rent and electric bills it covered — perhaps the most meaningful was prayer.

Julia visited the organization, one of 15 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette/El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund, a year ago looking for help with feeding her family.

Her troubles didn’t stop there. Her new marriage was falling apart and her son was causing trouble.

“They had a man named Marvin pray for my family,” Julia said. “Marvin encouraged me, and I cried.

“He lifted me up and prayed for us, and every one of those prayers was answered.”

Julia’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Northern Churches Care has been helping Julia since 2003, when she was a single mother of three having a tough time making ends meet.

Her financial problems ameliorated when she wed in 2009. But it wasn’t long before her husband lost his job.

This time there weren’t just three kids to feed — there were six.

“Without Northern Churches Care, I probably wouldn’t have had the food we needed at the time,” she said. “We were pretty down and out, and we couldn’t buy any food. The most my husband could give me was $25 a week sometimes.”

Though things are looking up for Julia and her family, she knows that Northern Churches Care is only a short drive away if she needs assistance.

She also knows that each visit will be encouraging and free of pressure to discuss religion.

“There is always coffee and doughnuts or cookies, and books to take, or quilts or clothes,” she said. “They have been such a bright, shining light to so many people.

“I just hope they can keep it going during such a difficult time in our economy.”