Jannette Santiago, a Northeast Philadelphia mother who lost her son to gun violence, is finding healing in the Joy of Sharing campaign during this difficult holiday season, writes Natasha Brown for CBS News Philadelphia.
Though her 33-year-old son Oscar was murdered a year ago, the pain of his loss remains as fresh as ever.
“It was November 22, two days before Thanksgiving,” she said. “And it has been like a nightmare.”
Amid her struggle to find joy this holiday season, she found a haven of healing with Mothers In Charge, a group of mothers united by the shared loss of loved ones to gun violence.
In partnership with CBS Channel 3, the group organizes the Joy of Sharing campaign, collecting toy donations to ensure that children affected by gun violence have gifts to open during the holidays.
Santiago, whose four-year-old grandson Amar still mourns his uncle Oscar, takes comfort in helping children like him receive toys for the holidays.
“It’ll be something nice and for Mother’s In Charge to help out, you know I’m part of the helping hand,” she said.
Read more about the Joy of Sharing campaign and how it impacts mother like Jannette Santiago at CBS News Philadelphia.
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