Family settles in, just in time for holiday

Heriberto Vargas managed to get his family of three children into an apartment in time for the holidays.

The family, which includes Israel, 10, Star, 11, and Joshua, 13, had to leave their previous home a few months ago after Vargas, 46, left the job where he’d worked as a technician for 12 years. He couldn’t afford the gas for the long drive anymore and the company closed soon after.

If that weren’t bad enough, someone broke into their home and stole most of their dinnerware, clothes, bikes, games, TV, CDs and MP3 player.

The series of events landed the family at the Ozanam Center, a homeless shelter at 656 N. Minnesota Ave. They ended up staying for two months.

The father continued earning a little money giving music lessons — he plays keyboards and bass guitar — and he and his brother were able to get enough money together to pay the rent for December.

He doesn’t know how he’ll pay for January — he says he’s “willing to do anything.”

The church the family attends managed to get two beds – one for the two boys and one for Star. The children use the two bedrooms while their father sleeps on one of three couches donated by the church.

The children all need more clothing and they could use chests of drawers to hold the clothes. At the moment they stack their clothes on salvaged entertainment centers.

They’ve been getting food once a week from a food pantry operated by the church, but it’s not very much. They’re grateful for what they get, but they need help with more food – spaghetti, cereal, milk, juice, eggs, yogurt.

“We need plates and a microwave oven,” Vargas said. “We need jackets and shoes for everybody.”

While they have adequate furniture, including a TV, in the living room, one thing is missing: a Christmas tree with presents, none of which Vargas can afford right now. He couldn’t even afford gas money to take his children to a big party in Washington Park on Dec. 18.

“I’d like a doll, and clothes for my teddy bear,” said Star, who was chewing on a candy cane. She is in fifth grade at Resaca Elementary.

Joshua, a seventh-grader at Cummings Middle School, would like a touch-tone telephone; Israel, a fifth-grader at Cromack Elementary School, would like a bicycle.

But the most important presents would be clothes. They all need shoes: Joshua and his father both wear a size 7½, Israel a size 5, and Star a size 3. Israel wears size 16 pants and size 12 shirt. Joshua wears size 18 pants and size 14 shirt. Star wears size 10 pants and shirt.