Mom wants better life for her children

Ellen has a simple wish: to watch Disney movies with her two children like she used to on Sunday nights.

Her former husband pawned the movies for drugs. He's in prison now, leaving behind spiraling debt for Ellen.

He's also left pain behind. Ellen, not her real name, said her former husband raped her.

"He was on coke on that night," she said. "My daughter saw it and heard the screaming. She called 911."

Ellen's daughter, now 12, has constant nightmares. Ellen's 10- year-old son has missed a lot of school and is underweight.

Both children are seeing psychologists.

Ellen wants a more stable life for her children. She knows it will take work.

"I want to go to school," she said. "I want to get my GED (high school equivalency degree). I want to do training and work with children."

But the past lingers, and the bills keep piling up.

Ellen has recently turned to the Salvation Army for help.

"They're helping out with Christmas," she said.

The Salvation Army is one of 11 organizations that benefit from The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund. The Salvation Army helps people in need get food, clothes and medicine as well as pay rent and utilities.

Ellen's counselor at the Salvation Army said her family needs financial help while she gets back payments for rent resolved and receives the training she needs so she can get a job.

Ellen "has a positive attitude and wants to succeed in a job and as a mother," her counselor said.

Ellen recently discovered her former husband didn't pay rent on their trailer lot. Now, Ellen says, she's stuck with a $4,000 bill for past rent. She's relying on public aid and food stamps. But the money coming in doesn't match the money that needs to go out.

"People don't understand what this guy has put me through with drugs and being scared for my life," she said.

"Why am I still taking care of his business when I'm trying to have a life of my own for my kids?"{TEXT}

- Edited by Mike Braham. Headline by Jeanne Davant

EMPTY STOCKING FUND

To contribute to the Empty Stocking Fund, make checks payable to Gazette Charities-Empty Stocking Fund and mail to P.O. Box 400, Colorado Springs, CO 80901.

Information is available at www.gazette.com and donations can be made online at www.ppcf.org.

Credit card donations can be made by phone, 476-1645.

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