OPERATION NOEL: The Rouse family

Meet the Rouse family. Caresse Rouse and her husband have three children: 3-year-old Raequan, 2-y ear-old Demetrius and 1-year-old Blessings

The Rouse’s say they spend their life sacrificing for their children. Caresse said, “we’ll lay our life on the line to make sure they got what they need and there’s nothing we wont do for our kids.”

Rouse said sometimes that means not putting gas, not paying the rent on time or not eating themselves to make sure their kids don’t go hungry.

Those limited funds make it hard to give their children everything they need, sometimes they make something out of nothing.

During their time up North in the frigid weather, Caresse told ABC-7, “sometimes we have to use garbage bags to make them into panchos to shield them from the rain.”

When its cold, a small jacket is all they can afford.

“We see them shivering or crying, even though I have a tank top I’ll take my sweater off, even though it’s huge on them, I know it’s keeping them warm,” said Caresse

The rouses say they are thankful for Operation Noel. With operation noel, kids will be able to zip up their jackets, put their hands in their pocket and stay warm for the winter.

The telethon starts at 5 a.m. on Thursday, November 28. ABC-7’s goal is to raise 375,000 to pay for 25,000 jackets at $15 per jacket.

Donate here.