thedrifter
12-20-06, 06:29 AM
Marines, Community Help Mother Of 12
Mortgage Paid To Date; Christmas Gifts Given
POSTED: 5:22 pm EST December 19, 2006
UPDATED: 8:20 pm EST December 19, 2006
ROCKY HILL, Conn. -- Some special Marines and community groups are pitching in to help a single mother of 12.
Karen Deford adopted her sister's eight children and has four of her own. Her three oldest children are Marines, and this year, a special Marines group is making Christmas extra special.
The Meriden Marine Corps League, the Rocky Hill State Veterans Home and area business chipped in with some holiday help for the Defords.
The group presented Deford with a check for $2,728.55 on Tuesday.
"This is probably going to be the best Christmas I've had in a long time," Deford said.
Each day, Deford said, she has struggled to make ends meet.
"We come to find out Karen was behind on her mortgage, so we paid it up to date," said Ron Perry of the Meriden Marine Corps League.
"My (law) office would like to provide some small gifts for you for Christmas, including a tree, money for food for the table and a shopping spree for your children," said Vincent Trantolo.
Deford's husband passed away last year and her mother passed away this year. Her three sons are currently serving overseas, one of whom is undergoing emergency surgery.
"She is a very strong woman, she has to be to have three sons in the U.S. Marine Corps," Perry said. "It's a great feeling for us (as) former Marines. It just shows the loyalty that people really do have for their country."
The veterans home also provided the Defords with some extra holiday gifts.
Ellie
Mortgage Paid To Date; Christmas Gifts Given
POSTED: 5:22 pm EST December 19, 2006
UPDATED: 8:20 pm EST December 19, 2006
ROCKY HILL, Conn. -- Some special Marines and community groups are pitching in to help a single mother of 12.
Karen Deford adopted her sister's eight children and has four of her own. Her three oldest children are Marines, and this year, a special Marines group is making Christmas extra special.
The Meriden Marine Corps League, the Rocky Hill State Veterans Home and area business chipped in with some holiday help for the Defords.
The group presented Deford with a check for $2,728.55 on Tuesday.
"This is probably going to be the best Christmas I've had in a long time," Deford said.
Each day, Deford said, she has struggled to make ends meet.
"We come to find out Karen was behind on her mortgage, so we paid it up to date," said Ron Perry of the Meriden Marine Corps League.
"My (law) office would like to provide some small gifts for you for Christmas, including a tree, money for food for the table and a shopping spree for your children," said Vincent Trantolo.
Deford's husband passed away last year and her mother passed away this year. Her three sons are currently serving overseas, one of whom is undergoing emergency surgery.
"She is a very strong woman, she has to be to have three sons in the U.S. Marine Corps," Perry said. "It's a great feeling for us (as) former Marines. It just shows the loyalty that people really do have for their country."
The veterans home also provided the Defords with some extra holiday gifts.
Ellie