Ortonville- Angela Davidson is struggling.
The single mother of five children was laid off from her job in September and her vehicle broke down the same day. She receives unemployment and gets a food stamp allowance, but no other state aid and no child support.
She can’t make all her bills and is frustrated with state welfare officials, who have told her if she makes more than $820 per month for her family of six, she can receive no assistance.
‘I can’t survive on that,? said Davidson, 31, whose children range in age from 11- to 6-years-old. ‘But that’s the way it works.?
Still, Davidson feels fortunate? she has family support and the help of the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund, which helped her provide Christmas gifts for her children last year and to whom she is turning to again this year for presents under the tree.
‘I know I’m lucky,? she said. ‘It’s hard for me and my kids and we do go without, but I know there are people in worse positions.?
Davidson, who was laid off from a job making auto parts in Rochester Hills, and previously worked as a hotel desk clerk, has been visiting the OCEF food pantry for the past two years. Last year, she said OCEF gave her children Christmas presents they wouldn’t have had, since her money goes to buy laundry detergent and pay bills.
‘My kids tell me, ‘Mom, don’t worry,? because they know I don’t have any money,? said Davidson, who hopes to buy a vehicle with her income tax check and then attend school for business management. ‘They’ve got great hearts… It was wonderful to open up gifts last year. I can’t describe the stress it took off me, because I didn’t think the kids would have a Christmas. If it wasn’t for churches and God, I don’t even want to know what the world would be like. I can’t describe how thankful I am to have someone to turn to when I have nothing. People need to know how much they help when they donate even $1 or cans of food.?