Christmas made joyful for a struggling single father and his children

Florin, 31, is a single father living with his three children in the outskirts of a village in Romania.

Every day, Florin and his children not only carry the weight of surviving in poverty, but also deep hurt after the mother of the family abandoned them two years ago. Florin works hard every day to provide a stable environment for his children - Adrian (10), Anais (7), and Raisa (5) - But as hard as he works, their challenges are ongoing.

Their home consists of just one room that serves as a family room, bedroom, kitchen, and more. They lack basic amenities such as running water, an indoor toilet and a bathroom, so they fetch water from a nearby well using plastic containers, making basic tasks like washing and cleaning endlessly difficult. Many other families in their community also lack access to running water, having led to a hepatitis A outbreak a few months ago. To make it worse, they have to make it through the winter without sufficient heating to battle the cold.

Every day a battle

Florin has had to depend on his parents to care for the children when he’s away. He never wants to leave his children, but he has to for periods of time to make sure he can provide for them, taking seasonal contracts to do agricultural and construction work in Germany, as a salary in Romania isn’t enough for their needs.

He says, “Being a single father without a stable job, every day feels like a battle just to keep food on the table. Wintertime doesn’t offer too many opportunities for me to get temporary jobs in our community. Prices at the store seem to go up every time I walk in. Trying to stretch what little money I have feels just impossible some days. I’m constantly left making choices no parent should make.”

A Food Box brings joy at Christmas

When Florin was given a Christmas Food Box by Mission Without Borders, it was no small gesture. Instead, it was exactly what they needed to enjoy Christmas as a family.

“For a single father like me, Christmas can be hard, as money is tight, and the cupboards are nearly empty. Receiving a box of food and treats changes everything.”

Their family now not only has sweets and treats, but also locally sourced ingredients that can be used to cook the delicious traditional Christmas foods that make them feel included in the holiday festivities.

“I can’t even put into words what it means to us. Not having to worry about how to afford Christmas food takes a huge weight off my shoulders. Without this box, I am very sure our Christmas would look different, especially when it comes to Christmas dinner. We can now have a variety of meals and treats that make the holiday feel special. Being able to offer the children the meals they enjoy during the holidays and not having to go hungry is a Christmas blessing that I am very grateful for.” 

This is one of the many stories where families' lives have been impacted by a simple donation. Just one box can show a family a different reality that is free from the struggles of affording food and heating during winter, and give them a sense of dignity and self-esteem. Your gift can mean that they’re able to experience the joy of sitting down to a proper meal together, as any family should be able to do at Christmas.

Join us in extending the joy of gift-giving even further than Australia, reaching into the lives of families in Eastern Europe and bringing them into Christ’s abundant and overflowing love.