Advertiser Christmas Fund
Clothing for sons welcome
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By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Their telephone and cable TV have been disconnected and if a relative had not paid a portion of the bill, the electricity would have been turned off on the last day of November.
Sept. 11 crippled their fledgling export business, leaving a McCully couple with no income other than $800 in welfare assistance — of which $750 goes to renting a two-bedroom apartment — and food stamps. "T.G." and her husband "C.G." have four boys, ages 10, 6, 2 1/2 and 8 months.
"We have enough to buy what we need in the house, like diapers," T.G. said. "We owed $220 on the electric bill and if my mother-in-law hadn't paid $138, they would have turned it off right away.
"It's pretty bad for us right now," she added. "We're living day-to-day. Someone could come to the door anytime saying you got to pay now or we going shut you off."
Sept. 11 put the couple's tropical fish exporting business into a deep hole.
"We had even flow before Sept. 11 but after (the terrorist attacks), some of our customers had to shut down. All of our customers are on the Mainland. There's a couple of them in New York. We could get shipments out — they just couldn't receive them (because of mailing problems on the Mainland). So we went from two or three shipments a week to nothing."
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.
Her husband and his business partner have decided to hang in for at least another two or three months, T.G. said.
The couple recently received a used bunk bed from the Community Clearinghouse to replace one given to them by C.G.'s mother, which broke down. The bunk bed is in a small bedroom, where there is also a crib and storage drawers for clothes. They will eventually need a second bunk bed.
Clothing for her sons is an immediate need, especially for the second eldest boy who already weighs 98 pounds and has a men's 30-32 waist. The other three boys wear normal sizes for their ages.
Recent donations:
In memory of David Garliepp and Billy Gibson Garliepp $25
In memory of a beloved grandson $25
In memory of Ken McLenahan $25
In memory of Takeshi Matsuwaka $100
In memory of Gabriel Sr., Remedious, Marcos Garduque and "Big Papa" $100
In memory of Susan Ignota & Ed $200
Roy E. Shigemura 20
Henry S. Arakaki $25
John R. Bigler $25
Kathryn N. Byus $25
Lynette Ching $25
Scott Matsuwaka $25
Dick & Jane Kirby $25
Kenneth J. Takamiya $25
Alexander & Mary Tim $25
Eugene H. Kamimura $40
Peggy A Blevins $50
Yvonne M. Nakata $50
Shelton I. Teruya $50
Ada J. Forbes $100
Janet S. Ginoza $100
Elyne C. Greene $100
Gregory P. Hee $100
Miriam Hicks $100
Dorothy & Raymond Packouz $100
Donald J. Cannata $250
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $100
Anonymous $100
Anonymous $200
Total $2,185
Total to date $13,115
Previous stories
• Tuesday, Dec. 4: Ex-addict, abused wife reclaims life
• Monday, Dec. 3: Disabled man seeks toy for grandson
• 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
