This holiday season, over twelve days, 24 families will have their holiday wishes come true. Kendall Auto Alaska is partnering with the Salvation Army to bring “Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring” to Alaskan families in need who otherwise may not have much of a holiday to celebrate.

See the Stories of the 24 Families below:

ANCHORAGE

1. Today, we are helping a family hit with cancer and job loss. First he lost his job, then this Anchorage husband and father learned he had testicular cancer. His wife is a stay-at-home mom, and now she’s in especially serious need of fixing their vehicle so they can get around with their young family in the cold weather. We provided the family a vehicle diagnostic and repairs.
2. One of today’s gifts goes to a single working Mom and her teen son from Anchorage, getting back on their feet after she left an abusive relationship. She just wanted to give her son a good Christmas. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army provided warm clothes, jeans and the son’s first shaving kit, as well as a TV for both. We also surprised mom with a work outfit — and a Christmas basket of cocoa and mugs. As it turned out, the mother and son have a tradition every year of drinking hot cocoa Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. How perfect!
3. Today, one of our gifts goes to a generous Anchorage Dad who has unfortunately been coping with bone cancer and job loss. His children (who are all special-needs and adopted) nominated him without him knowing. They said their Dad used to work in health care and always has spent all his time helping others, so they want to ensure he has a safe vehicle. His $500 gift will cover a vehicle diagnostic and repairs to help keep him safe on the road.
4. Today’s gift will help a young Anchorage family drive confidently to a brighter future. This hardworking Anchorage couple were already facing tough times and homelessness when the transmission went out on their vehicle. They’re now living in a shelter with their preschooler and baby girl. What they need now is a working vehicle. Their $500 gift goes toward a vehicle diagnostic and repairs.
5. After a job layoff, a child at home with autism and a teenaged daughter flown out of state for spine surgery, you can see why there might be nothing left for holiday shopping. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army provided winter clothing to keep this Anchorage family of six cozy and warm, as well as some gifts to help them feel special. For their 18-year-old son, a basketball and a watch. The rest of these lovely children are getting educational gifts–including books and an electronic learning pad. Plus a Christmas basket for all to enjoy!
6. Sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most. After being laid off, a single Anchorage mom of five is feeling the pinch of empty pockets, and worried that she couldn’t keep her kids in warm clothing and socks this winter. This year’s dividend checks went for bills, with nothing left for Christmas. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army provided LOTS of warm clothing and socks, toiletries for her teen son, Legos for her 7-year-old—and a $100 gas card. AND, because a family of boys can go through socks like crazy, a hundred dollars worth of socks.
7. This Anchorage grandmother cares for her two grandsons, one who is four and another who is thirteen. Her youngest grandson has been sleeping on a mattress on the floor. She had wanted to buy a bunk bed for him and his older brother this Christmas, but she got laid off recently and couldn’t afford one. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army is providing her with a bunk bed for the boys.
8. A mom wrote us that her two children, a 12 year old boy, and a 9 year old girl, have been praying for a new computer, so they can do their studies at home. She’s been having medical issues that remained undiagnosed and just recently lost her job, so there’s no way she could afford that computer right now. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army is providing a basic computer.
9. Today’s Day of Caring surprise gift goes to a single mom of two in Anchorage, with two  “great” boys, a 10-year-old and a teen, who both love spending time with family. Unfortunately, their dads are not in the picture to help, and Mom found it hard to give them a good Christmas. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army is providing warm winter jackets, boots, clothing and a pair of slippers for Mom, as well as laptop computer for the family.
10. An Anchorage stay-at-home mother of two can’t afford to buy her daughter a new mattress to replace the old worn one she had–much less give her the new bed and desk she deserves. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army is providing a new mattress as well as some furniture for her daughter’s room.
11. “My dad passed away last year, and we have been having trouble paying bills on time,” one Anchorage girl wrote. “All of my family’s paycheck goes to bills.” Her mother is now working to pay the family’s rent. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army was able to provide some relief for the holidays, paying gas, electric and water bills as well as providing some food.
12. A woman in Anchorage living in homeless shelters was meeting her family this Christmas for the first time in 6 years and wanted to have something to share. Seizures have made it impossible for her to hold a job. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army provided clothing and gifts for her family.

MAT SU

1. A Palmer couple has so many serious money issues and needs for their family, they feel overwhelmed. But through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army worked with them to help them start chipping away at the problem. Their first step is to be able to drive to get job retraining, so this family received tires in cooperation with Alyeska Tire.
2. A big-hearted Wasilla couple with a 3-year-old adopted the husband’s nephews and niece after the children’s parents were incarcerated. Their happy home now includes three girls and two boys. They usually don’t ask for help, but an ongoing problem with their septic system has required them to rent a power sewer snake twice a month. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army presented them with their own power sewer snake to see them through the winter until they can make the repair.
3. A Wasilla wife says her disabled husband’s chronic medical issues have had him in and out of the hospital this year. Most recently, he needed a blood transfusion. She’s the only one working to pay the bills, and they have found themselves just “unable to do Christmas this year.” Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring and in cooperation with Alyeska Tire, The Salvation Army provided studded winter tires to help provide safe transportation.
4. After experiencing a deeply personal tragedy and loss, a Palmer mom has been left with a large family to provide for. They are receiving needed winter gear and special items such as a sewing machine for her 13 year old daughter.
5. A Wasilla couple with four children has two with special needs who need special care and therapies. This family is receiving work clothes for both parents, a game system for the children, and books and music for the girls.
6. A family of 8 who recently moved to Palmer after the husband’s medical retirement from the military found their electric bills have stretched their budget to the max. To help their large family through the Alaskan winter, Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring and The Salvation Army are providing winter gear, including gloves, boot, coats and snowpants.

FAIRBANKS

1. After a horrific car accident, a young mother of three living in Fairbanks suffered a traumatic brain injury. Hospitalized for months in a coma, she’s now disabled, in a wheelchair and cannot care for her children; her sister wrote on her behalf. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring and The Salvation Army, she will be helped with new clothes and gifts for her children, two boys, 14 and 7, and an 11-year-old girl.
2. This single mother of two in Fairbanks has been having serious health problems. Family is already helping with home repairs, but she also needs help with good winter tires. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army is providing help and will also make sure the children, ages 6 and 3, have toys under the tree this Christmas.
3. A Fairbanks bus driver who recently lost her father has been doing her best to take care of her children. Working covers the basics, including her mortgage, but she needs help to keep her car safe for her family. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army will help her fix her power steering that is leaking and will also make sure the children have toys under the tree this Christmas.
4. This Fairbanks mother has suffered several massive strokes, facing health issues that made it impossible to continue working. Due to her mounting medical bills she doesn’t have the income to fix her car or give gifts to her daughter. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army is helping her fix the truck that she and her partner rely on to haul water, food, and garbage, as they live in a dry cabin. We will also make sure her child has toys under the tree this Christmas.
5.  This hardworking North Pole mother and her partner both work full time to make ends meet. They are worried about how they are going to do anything for Christmas since they are living paycheck to paycheck. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army intends to help with an oil change, a gift certificate for a car detail and possibly getting her car heater repaired. We will also make sure the children have toys under the tree this Christmas.
6. This Fairbanks couple works hard to pay their bills and keep their child in daycare. Mom even has two jobs. But she’s also had two major surgeries this last year, and just isn’t able to make ends meet enough to provide a Christmas for their family. They were able put new tires on for this winter, but the car needs brakes. Through Kendall’s 12 Days of Caring, The Salvation Army intends to help with the brakes, and help where possible on other car issues. We will also make sure their child has toys under the tree this Christmas.