These local businesses quietly decided to make this holiday season one that will be different for kids that are forgotten

At Thanksgiving and Christmas, the obligatory stories on the Mission, Betty Chinn, churches get featured on TV and in the newspaper.

What never gets mentioned are the people who work hard, yet struggle for various reasons. For the kids in these families, Christmas or the holiday season is just another day.


Many students attending school are living in motels or living month to month in difficult conditions. Some have jobs and still go to school. Others take care of their ill parents or help mom and dad with younger siblings and attend school.


For these children and teens, no one is collecting Christmas or holiday  presents. They won't be eating ham or turkey or stuffing and mashed potatoes. Or a hot dinner most days of the year. They won't be getting gifts. The family won't gather around the dinner table.

Despite the generosity of the community, the holidays are lonely and depressing for many people in Humboldt. Try spending your holiday eating Ramen Noodles while the TV blasts images of "A Wonderful Life."

For 34 years, Tina Mori of Tina's photography has photographed families and captured milestones in their lives from birth to weddings. Tina has also taken photos for local schools including graduation, proms and sports.

Tina and the businesses mentioned below will be surprised to see their generosity and kindness shared. They did not ask to be recognized. These local businesses give throughout the year. Typical as it is in Humboldt, it is always the same businesses and individuals donating.

Tina gets to know the kids and their families well. She shared a story of one young man with me. I don't know who he is but hope that  Tina can make his Christmas or holiday celebration special.

This year, she decided to approach some of the businesses she knows and her contacts at local schools. Tina will not know the identity of the families. With the generosity of the businesses listed and her own contribution, five families at each school will get a bag of groceries with recipes so they can make Christmas or a holiday dinner and gift certificates so each child will have a gift to open this joliday season.

For some, that gift could be a warm, clean winter jacket for a job or to wear to school.

I told her some people living in motels have no place to cook so maybe a gift certificate for a meal would be more handy.

Tina's Photography, Picky Picky Picky, Leons, Sport and Cycle, Williamson Financial, Tim Hayes, Cash and Carry are the businesses who have agreed to participate. This is the list, so far.

Redwood Capital gave $ 500 to East High School.