Foundation gives mourning families a merrier Christmas
It looked like Christmas would be bleak for the Cosme family. Laurence Cosme was fatally shot in August in front of two of his children. His wife, Eufemia, struggles to make ends meet with a paycheck from a part-time job.
Their world brightened considerably Sunday when several volunteers — led by Santa Claus — brought over mounds of toys, food, furniture and other gifts.
“This is just overwhelming,” Eufemia Cosme said with tears in her eyes.
The gifts were from the nonprofit Yatooma’s Foundation For the Kids, a Birmingham-based organization that aims to help children who have lost parents.
Attorney Norman Yatooma launched the foundation on Father’s Day 2003 in honor of his father, Manuel, who was fatally shot 10 years earlier during a carjacking. The event touched off a series of personal and financial hardships for Yatooma’s family.
Through the foundation, Yatooma now works to make life a little easier for grieving families in a variety of ways, such as by offering legal and financial assistance.
On Sunday, Yatooma and a team of volunteers delivered piles of presents to two Pontiac families.
The first family was the Cosmes. Eufemia Cosme, 32, was shocked to open her door and see Yatooma standing there dressed as Santa Claus.
After volunteers sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” they lugged in bags full of toys and food. The family, who was forced to move after Laurence’s death and had sparse furnishings in their newly rented house, also got a living room set, dining room set and bedroom furniture.
The children — 14-year-old Eunice, 11-year-old Ashley and 9-year-old Jeremy — excitedly tore into the presents, unwrapping comforters, iPods and games.
“It’s like winning the lottery or something,” Eufemia said as she watched the children with the presents in front of a Christmas tree.
Eufemia, who works part-time in medical billing, said she had been preparing for a lean Christmas. Yatooma’s Foundation for the Kids asked for a gift wish list, but she had no idea that her family would be receiving so many presents.
“I’m ecstatic,” Eufemia said. “I didn’t think I would be able to provide a good Christmas.”
After receiving the gifts, someone asked Ashley if she believes in Santa Claus.
“I do now, again,” she said.
Yatooma’s Foundation volunteers also gave presents to a mother and four children, ages 11, 9, 7, and 6, who are temporarily living at Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac. The family recently lost their husband and father to cancer.
Yatooma said he still clearly remembers how especially painful his first Christmas without his father was. He said the two families visited Sunday will never be able to think about that first Christmas without remembering a group of happy people showering them with presents.
“This is our way of trying to give them another memory,” Yatooma said.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE MANY SUPPORTERS OF YATOOMA’S FOUNDATION FOR THE KIDS WHO MADE OUR EXTREME CHRISTMAS MAKEOVER SO SUCCESSFUL AND MEANINGFUL FOR THE COSME AND ANTHONY FAMILIES!
Contact staff writer Ann Zaniewski at (248) 745-4628 or ann.zaniewski@oakpress.com.
