PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) — The holidays can be tough for a lot of families who are struggling just to make ends meet. But thanks to the generosity of the local nonprofit Lighthouse, and the community, hundreds of families are getting a helping hand to make sure their Christmas is joyful.
"I almost thought about suicide... depression," said Rickey Young Jr. "It was at a time (I was in a) real dark place . (My) kids needed me, my wife needed me. I did what I had to do to make sure we made it."
For Young, his wife and their five children, life hasn't been easy lately. They'd been living in a motel the last two years, struggling to make ends meet.
"We been though it all," Young said. "Was always at the bottom (and) started to make transitions to a better life."
It's still challenging to meet some basic needs but things have started turning around. They're now in a house. Young has a new job at an auto supply company and they were chosen by the local nonprofit Lighthouse for its adopt a family program. The Young family is among 600 families adopted this year alone.
"We had schools, churches, other organizations just pull together to be able to make this happen (for those) who otherwise probably wouldn't receive any gifts for Christmas," said Lighthouse Director Marci Fitch.
Mr. and Mrs. Young knew that because they'd been adopted by Lighthouse that they'd be getting a visit from Santa early. However, the kids had no idea until the exact moment it happened.
