Back BY KATHLEEN NELSON Of the Post-Dispatch Case No. 64 The G. family arrived in St. Louis in early fall in the hope of starting a new life. A fresh start has been slow to materialize. Mrs. G. and her four children arrived from Michigan with just the clothes on their backs and a few personal items. Since her husband left, she and the children have been living with relatives until they can afford a place of their own. The family, which is in need of money, seems to be caught in a loop. Mrs. G can't find a job until she can afford hepatitis injections; she won't have money for the shots until she finds a job. More pressing medical concerns are at hand, though. Her 10-year-old daughter suffers from sickle cell anemia, and without a job and medical insurance, Mrs. G will be unable to afford her daughter's medication. A gift of $200 could help pay for medical bills or home furnishings. Mrs. G's four growing children also are in need of clothing. Though they have few toys, their fondest wishes are for bicycles. Case No. 65 Ms. C. is a single mother, raising five children and one grandchild with no assistance from the children's fathers. Two of the fathers are deceased, and neither worked long enough at any job to earn benefits that she could collect. Though she lives in public housing, Ms. C. was threatened with eviction. She scraped together enough money to pay the back rent but was left with another big need: beds. Currently, four of the children either double up in single beds or sleep on the floor. A gift of $200 would provide Ms. C.'s family with a good night's rest. Ms. C. also could use sheets and blankets for the new beds, and the growing children need clothing, winter coats and gloves. Case No. 66 Ms. P. had worked hard to make a good life for her three children. She was working on her GED and going through a job training program in the hope of starting a career in health care. Her plans have been postponed, however, because she is expecting her fourth child soon. Without education or a job, she scrapes by solely on Aid to Families with Dependent Children and food stamps. She was dealt an unholy blow when a house fire destroyed or damaged all her possessions. Though she has received help from the Red Cross, her children miss their favorite toys that were destroyed, their roller skates and skooter. Despite the setbacks, Ms. P. remains determined to return to school and restore her home. A gift of $200 would allow Ms. P. to replace the toys or help her until she can get back to job training.

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