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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 9, 2001

Advertiser Christmas Fund
Family lives in shed, seeks clothing

 •  Previous stories

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

"M.K.," her two teenage sons and sister "P.S." have been living for two years in what was once a storage shack. There is no running water, bathroom or bedroom inside the shack.

"We have a commode," M.K. said. "We use a bucket with Clorox."

For M.K., 47, and her sons — ages 18 and 15 — the shack is better than the beach. "We were homeless for close to a year," said M.K., widowed in 1995 and surviving on her husband's monthly benefits of $760 and food stamps. Her sister also gets food stamps but does not qualify for welfare.

How to make a donation
 •  Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to
    Helping Hands Hawai'i
    P.O. Box 19155
    Honolulu, HI 96817
 •  Donations 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.
The family is waiting for federal rent subsidy so they can move into an apartment.

M.K., whose body is covered with insect bites, suffers from asthma. Her sister has heart problems. Neither woman is healthy enough to work.

M.K.'s eldest son started a new job as a carpet cleaner the day after Thanksgiving. He and his younger brother, who is a special-education student, take the bus.

"An elderly man they call Uncle Bobby has been paying for their bus pass for two months," M.K. said.

She would really like to have some new clothes for the boys.

"We don't have running water but we have enough to eat," said M.K., who sleeps on the one bed in the shack with her sister. The boys sleep on the floor.

"Whatever we need is for the boys."

• • •

Previous stories

 • Saturday, Dec. 8: Children need bedroom furniture
 • 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