Household finances can take a big hit when a family is caring for children with disabilities.

And at Christmastime, the money crunch often becomes emotionally unbearable.

That is the story a mother from a North Shore seaside town told in her letter to Globe Santa this year.

“Our family is intensely thankful that your Santa program exists,’’ she wrote. “Over the past few years, my husband has been working hard in retail jobs while I have been spending my time advocating for our disabled sons’ needs at school meetings and doctor and therapist sessions.

“My husband works hard, and as many hours as he is offered, but it still is a struggle to pay for such things as clothes for our fast-growing boys.’’

In the face of all this demand on her time, this mother is working hard herself to improve the family’s situation.

“I am currently attending college to earn an accounting degree,’’ she said. “That will help us climb out of the financial hole we currently face.’’

She ended on an optimistic note.

“We thank you and your donors in advance for any help you can provide us with for the upcoming Christmas holiday, and we look forward to the time when we will be able to help others as we have been helped,’’ she wrote.

Somehow, a sense of confidence that better days are ahead jumps off the page of that letter.

Globe Santa, a program run by The Boston Globe Foundation, is working to make a better Christmas for this North Shore family with the proceeds from the donations of so many generous givers. Please consider joining that company of Santa’s friends.

For information on Globe Santa coverage contact Tom Coakley at thomas.coakley@globe.com.