"We have enough to get by," she said. "I'm not receiving welfare or food stamps. Most of my income goes to pay bills for the house and for baby formula and diapers. That leaves me just enough to put gas in my car."

M.F., who works at night, lives with her mother, "L.F.", in a two-bedroom townhouse. Her sister and mother watch the baby while M.F. is at work.

"I'm keeping my head up (above water) but without my family's help, I wouldn't be able to do it," said M.F., who plans to start taking college courses next month with hopes of someday getting into nursing school.

The townhouse she's living in is at the end of a long walkway, which is several hundred yards from the parking stall. L.F. is recovering from hip surgery, and carrying the infant from her car is a struggle.

M.F. would like a second baby stroller that her mother could keep with her. "She can't carry the baby and her bags, so she'll leave the bags in her car," M.F. said. "When I get home, I go back and get whatever there is in her car."

Anyone who wishes to donate a stroller or any other items to The Advertiser Christmas Fund can do so at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway near Pu'uhale Street in Kalihi Kai. For details call 536-7234.

Monetary contributions are also welcome. Checks, made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund, should be mailed to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17328, Honolulu, HI 96817. Checks may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.

Once again, our generous anonymous Santa is matching the first $25 of each donation.

Recent donations

Christmas fund donations

In loving memory of Uncle Turhan $20
In memory of David Garliepp and Billy Gibson Garliepp 25
In memory of Susanne Nitta 25
In loving memory of Reyrdd Y.S. Leong 50
In memory of Beryl Jen 50
In memory of Martha Sakaguchi 50
In memory of Yoshio Fujii 100
In memory of Vivian, Harry and Vince 500
In memory of Lawrence Newbold Brown 500
Dedicated to the unborn 25
Jessica F. Brantley 15
Karen M. Queen 20
Bennett D. Baird 20
Annette C. Kaneko 20
Helen K. Liu 25
Donald S. Honda 25
Victor A. Paruginog 25
Lindsey and Rand 25
James T. Rosenswike 25
Ansley K. Ling 25
Barbara A. Hoy 25
Winifred T. Nakamura 30
Lola N. Mench 50
Rosei Shinsato 50
Mark Heyd 50
Nick Love 50
Marjorie J. Goodloe 50
Ryan Tucker 50
Dylan Tucker 50
Heather Tucker 50
Greg Leong 50
Francis C. Jordan 50
Steven and Myrna Kanemoto 100
Capt. Conrad B. Divis, USN 100
Daniel I. Takamatsu 100
Herbert and Lillian 100
Boy 100
Rosanne Harrigan and Mary Elaine Patrinos 100
Contemporary Gardens, Inc. 100
Edwin Y.L. Ho 100
Charlotte A. Meyer 100
Rita and Cam Shuford, Barry and Sharon Usagawa, Darryl Salvador, Melinda Orian, Sherilynn Eemiliano, Louise Eesselstyn, Robre Lovinger, Debbi Waterman, and Nickey Larson 100
Lydia I. Leonard 100
Punahou 7th Grade Teachers Team X: Mrs. Kugle, Mrs. Lau, Mr. McKenney, Mrs. Otsuka, and Mrs. Robinson 100
Evelyn R. Pao 100
Alison K. Manaut 100
Wallace E. Samuelson, Jr. 100
Kyle, Kathy, Kim and Kelsey Uyehara 150
UH Creative Services 195
Jerry, Lynn and Bria Hiromoto 250
Griff and Jennifer Jones 500
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 100
Anonymous 200
Anonymous 250

Daily Total $5,395