Advertiser Christmas Fund
Disabled man seeks toy for grandson
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By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Before being disabled by vertigo, 56-year-old "H.O." sometimes earned up to $1,000 a week working in construction. Today, he and his 9-year-old grandson are surviving on $452 a month from welfare and food stamps.
"My rent is $400 and $52 doesn't go very far," he said. "Once we had the riches. Now we are the poors. If you can survive without money, you can survive anywhere.
"We were homeless and living at the boat harbor a few months ago," H.O. said, noting that a social worker came to his rescue by advising him where to go for assistance. "With knowledge, you can survive."
The boy has been with H.O. since he was 3 months old. The boy's mother, H.O.'s daughter, died on the day after Christmas.
"She gave the baby to me," he said. "I changed his diapers, raised him. I see him as my son."
How to make a donation
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Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to
Helping Hands Hawai'i
P.O. Box 19155
Honolulu, HI 96817
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Donations may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
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Anyone wishing to donate goods instead of money can do so at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway near Pu'uhale Street. For details, call 536-7234.
The boy, who has speech and attention deficits, is a fourth-grader doing second-grade work, H.O. said. "But he tries hard in school."
"When I was working, life was going good," he said. "We went on vacations. Anything he wanted, he got. Now when he wants a toy, I have to tell him we can't afford it. I don't need nothing but I want to get him a toy airplane or bus for Christmas."
H.O., who earned his general equivalency diploma five years ago, is attending employment training center with hopes of landing a job in building maintenance or residential management.
Recent donations
In loving memory of Florence Monasterolo $100
In memory of David and Billy Gibson Garliepp $25\
George B. Drummond $10
Shirley L. Neid $20
Helen T. Nakamura $25
Michele A. Ferguson $25
Gilbert L. Robichaud $25
James A. Young $30
Virginia L. Medeiros $30
Lynn R. Rogers $50
Victoria A. Mayo $50
Betty and Bill Fiddler $100
Leah Elaine Gold $100
Don Yanaga $100
Esther M. Stubblefield $200
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $200
Total $1,115
Previous total $7,665
Total to date $8,780
Previous stories
• Sunday, Dec. 2: Ailing son left family buried in bills
• Saturday, Dec. 1: Woman says seventh child is chance to be good parent
• Friday, Nov. 30: With its breadwinner laid off, family requests help for first time
• Thursday, Nov. 29: Pacific immigrants struggle to stay here
• Wednesday, Nov. 28: Couple forgo gifts, except for two keiki's
• Tuesday, Nov. 27: Child's grave needs headstone
• Monday, Nov. 26: Security officer, six children have to eat on floor
• Sunday, Nov. 25: Holiday assistance badly needed this year
