In the News ... "‘Tis the season for helping"

By Lyxan Toledanes, Reporter
Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - When everyone prayed for rain, Edna Ontiveros prayed that it wouldn’t. Every rainstorm for the 83-year-old widow meant a night without sleep, changing pails of collected water that would fall through the hole in her deteriorated roof that was just above her bed.

Because she is on Social Security, Ontiveros’ fixed income did not allow for the extra cost for home repairs.

“When it rained, I used to have to stay up. By the time I emptied one pail of water, the other was full,” Ontiveros said.

With the help of Christmas in Action volunteers, Ontiveros’ roof — once made of gravel, tar and felt — has been patched up and replaced with shingles.
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