Advertiser Christmas Fund
Children need bedroom furniture
• Recent Christmas Fund donations
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By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| How to donate
Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund may be mailed to: Helping Hands Hawai'i Checks may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch. 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. |
"W.N." visits her three children daily so they can see the person who has been drug-free since June 3, 1998, rather than remembering the ice addict who neglected them.
The children — 11, 7 and 5 years old — lived in separate foster homes for 2 1/2 years, but are now with their father, also a recovering drug user.
"I'm a mother trying to get her life back on track," said the 32-year-old W.N. "I'm trying to teach them not to go the way I did.
"I wasn't doing what a mother should have been doing when they were taken away from me. My kids were being fed, but not by me. My mind was on drugs, not on them. I can't make up for what happened, but I can be more of a mother to them now than I was before."
W.N. is very involved with her children's school activities. Two of the three were born with a genetic condition that affects their intestines but is not related to her drug use, she said. She and their father, who do not live together, are undergoing therapy with their children as part of the reunification process.
"I'm trying my best," she said. "I go over every day to sit and talk with the children, make sure their homework is done."
The children share two dressers with broken drawers, W.N. said. "I tried using wood glue to fix them, but they're just too far gone. They need someplace to put their clothes."
W.N. would like two dressers with four drawers each for the children. The kids, who are sleeping on old mattresses on the floor, also need beds and bedding.
Recent Christmas Fund donations
In memory of David Garliepp
and Billy Gibson Garliepp 25
In memory of Gerald H. W. Lum 20
In memory of Patricia and Mary Pila 100
In memory of Issac Hall Sr.
and Daniel Naone Jr. 150
In memory of Ethel Roth 200
Betty 10
Katherine R. Tracy 20
John O. Gibson 25
John V. Lee 25
Rhea Nichols 25
M. and S. O. 25
Norma Y. Ma 25
E. Jean Garcia 50
Wayne and Keane 50
Keven and Ashley 50
Richard Y. Chinen 50
Shari Yamashiro 50
Kathleen D. Jeffries 50
Alan Y. and Gayle R. Serikawa 50
Raymond C. Kanzaki 50
Yoshio Ueda 100
Raymond H. Oda 100
Dr. Wilfred Miyasaki 100
Naomi B. Clark 100
Xuan V. Hyunh 100
Soichi Matsuoka 100
David J. Randell
and Rosemary Fazio 100
Bob and Judy Maguire 100
Ethel N. Fragas 100
Karl K. Kawahara 125
Pan Am Association 350
Anonymous 40
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 75
Total $2,615
Total to date: $23,535
• Friday, Dec. 7: Stroke patient needs friend to get to therapy
• Thursday, Dec. 6: Shriners patient needs shoes, transportation to appointments
• Wednesday, Dec. 5: Clothing for sons welcome
• 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
