2022 has been a very challenging year for the Elliott family of Hope Street, consisting of father James, mother Reanne, daughter Jamiee, a 12-year-old student at Kickemuit Middle School, and son Ayden, who will be four in February.

The family was already living paycheck to paycheck when a series of crises knocked them back on their heels. Reanne lost her job during the pandemic and has not been able to find work that would leave her with an income after the expense of putting Ayden in full-time daycare. James is employed as a security guard for a private security firm on Aquidneck Island. He makes just enough money to disqualify the family for heating assistance and EBT benefits.

Though James does have health insurance through work, the deductible is very high. “Most of my paycheck was going to food,” he said. “And we were barely meeting our other expenses.”

Then Jamiee was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an incurable, often painful inflammatory disease that can lead to weight loss and malnutrition. Infusion therapy is tremendously helpful at managing the symptoms of Crohn’s, but with a high deductible policy, James and Reanne soon found themselves forced to choose between paying for Jamiee’s medical care or paying their rent.

Like any parent would, they chose Jamiee.

Then, in November, they were notified by their landlord of four years that she has other plans for the space and needs them to move out by New Years Day. With the holidays approaching, the young family found themselves paralyzed with anxiety, with no idea where they were going to find the resources to provide Jamiee and Ayden with any kind of Christmas — never mind coming up with first, last, and security for a new apartment.

“We love Bristol, we don’t want to leave,” said Reanne. The family is also looking in Warren, in hopes that Jamiee can stay at KMS, but moving costs are daunting, and nonexistent. “It’s been overwhelming.”

A friend reaches out
“Our friend Ann Shoppell has been amazing,” said Reanne. “She contacted Levi’s Oil, and they filled our tank. That was so generous.” She also started a GoFundMe to help the Elliotts cover their mounting expenses.

Shoppell also connected the family with The Ladies Auxiliary of the Bristol Volunteer Fire Department, and Jennifer Mancieri, President and Founder of their Community Aid Fund.

Before they knew it, the Ladies had responded, bringing gifts for Jamiee and Ayden and financial support for James and Reanne. While their financial problems will remain once the holidays have come and gone, the relief provided by the Ladies’ Auxiliary is allowing the family to take a breath and enjoy the holiday before facing difficult decisions in the new year.

“They are a wonderful family who needed some extra Christmas magic this holiday season,” said Mancieri. “After hearing their story and speaking to Mr. Elliot about our Giving Day I knew they needed our support and we were going to do everything we could to be sure they had a memorable Christmas.”

Mancieri credits the contributions of local businesses, the Bristol Knights of Columbus, and the community for funding their efforts. “We can’t thank everyone enough for their support,” she said. This year, the Community Aid Fund was able to help over 100 Bristol and Warren families with Christmas, to one extent or another.

“There is no better feeling in the world than to be able to help these families and know that what you did truly made an impact on their life in that moment,” said Mancieri.

“The Ladies Auxiliary stepped in and really went above and beyond to help my family in this time of need,” said James. “Just when my family thought there was no help in sight, those women stepped in and helped us more than we could have asked for and we just really want to thank them and show them how much it meant to us.”