Peoria woman thankful for resources to bring Christmas joy to her family
Bobbie Berryman is well acquainted with persevering through difficult times.
Raised by a single mother in East Peoria, Berryman got pregnant with her first son at 15 years old. She completed her GED at the Academy at ICC in her sophomore year and has worked hard over the years to support her family.
Now in Peoria, Berryman has learned how to preserve food. A local pantry gives her items that are going bad, which she uses to feed her chickens.
“We don’t let anything go to waste,” she said. “Waste not, want not.”
Yet, Berryman wanted to speak with the Journal Star to share a message: Sometimes – regardless of hard work and cost-cutting measures – people need a little extra help, and that’s all right.
“I know a lot of people like me that have come from where they have been at their biggest point in their life to damn near nothing,” Berryman said. “And they’re ashamed to (get help), and there’s no reason to be ashamed.”
Want to help?The Journal Star Christmas Fund is accepting donations to make the holidays merry for all
Things have been especially difficult for Berryman and her family in recent years. She said her previous job could not find work for her while she was pregnant. A torn rotator cuff ultimately forced her out of the job, and she said she's looked for small side jobs to provide for the family since then.
In June, Berryman broke her knee, and the recovery required three surgeries – due in part to a staph infection. Even if she found a position accommodating of her recovery, Berryman said transportation is an issue. Her family is faced with a delicate balancing act when it comes to expenses.
“I can't fix my car right now because I have to pay my heat bill,” Berryman said.
Even so, Berryman has endured, seeking out resources to take some of the strain off her family this holiday season.
On Dec. 17, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office brought gifts and two $100 Hy-Vee gift cards to Berryman’s home. Her daughters, 8 and 5 years old, were “super excited” by the gifts Santa left for each of them – a tea set for the younger girl and a beaded jewelry set for the older.
“I was crying and I did not expect all that,” Berryman said.
She said she was able to use the gift cards to order cold and flu medicine for her family, which has been battling illness.
In loving memory and to help the needy:A complete list of Peoria Journal Star Christmas Fund donors
The Journal Star’s Christmas Fund is another piece to the puzzle when it comes to providing her family with the best Christmas possible.
The Salvation Army had its Toy Shop Day on Dec. 20. The Christmas Fund went toward toy-filled stockings and boxes of food for families, which are then distributed by the Salvation Army.
Despite recent challenges, Berryman said the only thing to do is persevere, and help from the community is making that a bit easier.
She plans on using apples from a local food pantry to make a pie for the holiday, and the Salvation Army toys will provide her daughters with some extra Christmas joy.
“The people that don't want to think that they can (accept help) because they’d feel ashamed – that’s not what it’s about,” Berryman said. “It’s about providing a Christmas for your family.”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 'No reason to be ashamed': Peoria woman is thankful for Christmas Fund
