Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help.<\/p>\n
That is the advice many past Give A Christmas recipients would share with those unsure of applying to the Burlington County Times\u2019 holiday gift assistance fund this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of people are scared to let people know their story,\u201d said Crystal Pfeiffer, a single mom of three children who received assistance from the program in 2020. \u201cIf you need help, definitely ask around for help because there\u2019s a lot of people that do help around the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n
More:<\/strong> 2021 Give A Christmas program will help families in need during second pandemic holidays<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI was always like, \u2018I got it, I\u2019m going to do everything on my own,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cBut times do get rough and sometimes we all do need a little bit of help.\u201d<\/p>\n Guilt, shame and the pressure to appear resilient are some common reasons why people struggle to ask for help, according to Mark Sigmund, a therapist at Retreat Behavioral Health in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see it all the time, people struggle to reach out for help because, a lot of times, it makes them feel very vulnerable,\u201d said Sigmund, who is from Palmyra. \u201cIt hurts somebody\u2019s pride.\u201d<\/p>\n More:<\/strong> COVID, Cancer and Slime: How Give A Christmas helped one family celebrate in 2020<\/a><\/p>\n Coming from a\u00a0family\u00a0that\u00a0refuses\u00a0support or denies\u00a0they need it is how many people become averse to seeking\u00a0help, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of families have sort of this tough exterior where there\u2019s family secrets and, if the family is struggling at all, they try to handle it internally,\u201d he said. \u201cKids are taught, \u2018Don\u2019t reach out for help, keep this a secret, protect the family name.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Growing up around parents who fail to recognize when they are struggling is another\u00a0way people learn to avoid reaching out in times of need, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople tend to isolate (when struggling),\u201d said Sigmund. “One of the ways to really fix things is to actually get help from a good support system.\u201d<\/p>\n More:<\/strong> Give A Christmas helped family welcome adopted son, buy gifts despite hardships in 2020<\/a><\/p>\n To combat the\u00a0urge to isolate, start small, he said.\u00a0Grab coffee with a friend and cultivate a sense of security with them.\u00a0It\u2019s unnecessary to\u00a0jump into the big stuff right away\u00a0\u2014\u00a0or even at all. Forming a connection with\u00a0another person can be all someone needs to feel safe advocating for themself.<\/p>\n \u201cYou would be amazed at how much pressure that takes off the individual when they can let other people in and other people can give them assistance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n More: <\/strong>A step-by-step guide to applying for the Give A Christmas program<\/a><\/p>\n Sigmund\u00a0also\u00a0stressed the\u00a0need\u00a0for\u00a0altruism\u00a0all year round.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so important for people to realize\u00a0that there\u2019s a lot of people that are suffering around the holidays,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cThe biggest thing that I see both on the mental health side and the drug and alcohol side is\u00a0(that)\u00a0support\u00a0is\u00a0the most important thing to get through the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n About the Give A Christmas program:<\/em><\/p>\n The Burlington County Times\u2019\u00a0annual Give\u00a0A\u00a0Christmas\u00a0program helps struggling Burlington County families\u00a0celebrate the holidays\u00a0by\u00a0providing them with gift cards to purchase presents.<\/p>\n With the help of the Times\u2019 partner organization, NJ 211 \u2014 a nonprofit that connects people with\u00a0community resources\u00a0that provide living\u00a0necessities\u00a0\u2014\u00a0applying for assistance is easier than ever.<\/p>\n Burlington County residents who require assistance can text\u00a0GAC to 898211<\/strong>\u00a0to check their eligibility.\u00a0Eligibility is based on income and recipients may include, but are not limited to, parents with sick children, single-family households, people struggling with addiction and people who are unemployed.<\/p>\n Applications for assistance will be accepted through Nov. 21<\/strong>. There is no deadline for donations.<\/p>\n Anyone interested in donating can do so\u00a0at\u00a0www.burlingtoncountytimes.com\/giveachristmas<\/a>.<\/p>\n For questions about the Give\u00a0A\u00a0Christmas program, contact Executive Editor Audrey Harvin at\u00a0aharvin@gannett.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n