Strangers save Christmas for Penticton mom and kids on brink of homelessness

A Penticton health-care worker and single mother of two who's struggling to pay her bills every month will not have to spend the Christmas holidays worrying.

Thanks to the financial support from another mom who "has been there," Kandace Sztepanacz said she's able to purchase presents.

“When the season rolled around I felt so incredibly broken that I had to worry not only about keeping a roof over their head but also making sure that Christmas this year happened for them,” she told iNFOnews.ca, Nov. 17. “I don’t have to worry now. My kids get a Christmas. I don’t know if there is a greater gift a parent can receive.”

The donor, who wants to remain anonymous, read Sztepanacz’s story in an iNFOnews.ca article last week about the financially unstable housing situation the single mom and her kids are in, living pay cheque to pay cheque, struggling to pay for rent and fearing homelessness.

The donor reached out to Sztepanacz and sent along Christmas funds from herself and others in her community on Vancouver Island.

READ MORE: Penticton healthcare worker and kids on the brink of homelessness

“It isn’t a handout it is a hand up in this ridiculously expensive housing market,” the donor said. “Everyone added a little bit and it all adds up and makes a difference to a person in the moment of struggling. She won’t be there forever, I was there once too.”

The donor suggested Sztepanacz give her kids some money to buy presents for their mom, but how she spends the donations are entirely up to her.

“She is one of many parents in need right now,” the donor said. “We wanted this family to have a happy Christmas where financial stress doesn’t take over.”

Sztepanacz works as a nursing unit clerk at the Penticton Regional Hospital. Every month she's sinking further into debt, which is causing her anxiety, fear and feelings of hopelessness that her family will ever feel financially stable and secure.

“My grandmother worked at the hospital running the X-ray department for years and was able to afford a big, beautiful home where I grew up but my generation can’t afford to live," she said. “Something needs to be done, the cost of living is way too high. I have a great job, one with a pension, but I live in fear that we’ll end up on the streets.”

READ MORE: Governments need to 'serious steps' to tackle housing crisis: Accountants

She was able to put all her worries to the side and shop for Christmas presents for her kids.

“(The donor) and her community have just done something so incredibly amazing, and I wish I had a way to let her know how thankful I am," Sztepanacz said. “I was able to get them some pretty amazing stuff and sent her the pictures. She is seriously an angel.”

According to Statistics Canada data from the 2021 census released in September, B.C. residents paid an average of 25.6% of their income on shelter last year. In Kelowna, 43.7% of renters paid more than 30% of their income on shelter last year, while 36.1% of renters in Kamloops payed more than 30% last year. The data released by StatsCan doesn't include a breakdown for smaller communities.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.