Dressers and twin beds top Stacey Marcellino's holiday wish list.

The single mother of two girls and a 2-year-old son is on her own, but in a home she can call her own.

It's a big deal for Marcellino, who had been homeless while her mom took care of her children. She spent two years at rock bottom. She was on drugs and had handed over full responsibility for her children to their grandmother.

Then, things changed. She got help and got off drugs and in August, she reclaimed her life. She was approved for a Section 8 housing voucher, a federal rental assistance program. Her home is just down the street from her mom, and she can get support and help, but remains on her own, raising her family and being a good mom.

She now works part-time as a house attendant for a private company. It's shift work, but when it's at night, her mom comes over and watches her children, she said.

Her goal is to buy a house, someplace that she and the kids own.

"It's all about the choices I made then compared to now," Marcellino, 31, said. "I was lost. No one can change you but you."

"I was able to reclaim my kids."

If someone adopts Marcellino's family, she is hoping that she can get household items, clothes and shoes for her children, ages 12, 6 and 2. A Wal-Mart gift card would also go a long way to helping the family remain independent.

"I would appreciate any donated items that can help our Christmas be a brighter one," Marcellino said. "I don't need any gifts, just furniture to make my home complete."