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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, November 25, 2001

Holiday assistance badly needed this year

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Thousands of people in Hawai'i are at a juncture in life where poverty meets misery and helplessness chips away at human dignity.

The economic fallout from Sept. 11 has added many first-time names to an ever-expanding list of people who need help. Some need money to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Others are looking for beds, blankets or clothes. All could use a boost of hope.

"Across the board, there has been a 35 percent increase in requests for services," said Vicki Suyat of Catholic Charities. "These include requests for emergency food, clothing, rental assistance and therapeutic counseling. The increase is directly attributable to the trickle-down effects of Sept. 11 and the loss of about 23,000 jobs."

In addition, hundreds of families are scheduled to leave the welfare rolls Dec. 1.

"It's just going to add another layer onto an already bad situation," Suyat said.

Donations to The Advertiser Christmas Fund are one way to help.

Last year, Advertiser readers donated more than $105,000 to the fund and responded generously to individual requests.

HMSA cashiers show off the thank-you card from a family of four they adopted last year.

Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

When Andie's parents asked for a bed for their 2-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy, readers donated a twin bed, a crib for Andie's brother, clothes and other gifts.

When a resident of a care home for the mentally disabled dreamed of owning her own television set, she was given three.

Students at schools statewide collected their pennies, and Iolani students gave 100 toys for needy children on Moloka'i.

Money collected in The Advertiser Christmas Fund goes to Helping Hands Hawai'i, which services requests throughout the year from 171 agencies such as Catholic Charities, United Cerebral Palsy, Healthy Start Waianae, Child and Family Services, Palama Settlement, Waimanalo Health Center, Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, St. Patrick Church's Outreach program, and O'ahu Head Start.

Helping Hands also operates a 10,000-square-foot clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway near Pu'uhale School that provides new and used donated items to 18 families a day.

"The money we get from the Christmas Fund keeps giving the rest of the year," said Clara Olds, Helping Hands Hawai'i's special events manager. Much of the money is used to purchase food certificates, she said. The organization also maintains a quick-cash Emergency Assistance Fund.

Who are these people in need? What are they like? Why are they unable to work?

Glimpses of those in need

Beginning today, The Advertiser will answer some of these questions through daily stories of some of those seeking help. The stories are based on cases provided by Helping Hands Hawai'i and reporting by The Advertiser. However, they represent only a fraction of those who could be helped by donations.

"Everybody knows someone who got laid off or had their hours cut because of Sept. 11," said Diane Sukita, a public health nurse. "They are neighbors or friends of a friend. These are people who have always been able to provide for their families. Many are (ashamed) to ask for assistance. We have to encourage them to do it so they can pay their rent and buy food."

General assistance keeps many families going, but there are some who can't get welfare.

"P.T." is among them.

She is a 34-year-old single mother of four children — ages 16, 13, 5 and 2 — with no relatives in Hawai'i. Home is a two-bedroom Palama apartment, but they could be homeless by the end of the week. Like many others, P.T. cannot afford childcare so she can work.

P.T. lost her welfare benefits and food stamps when she quit her $400 per month restaurant job at the beginning of the school year to stay home and care for her two youngest children. Without welfare assistance, there's no money for food or rent. Catholic Charities covered her rent for November.

What she'll do for housing in December is something she'll think about later. Food is of greater importance.

"We don't have nothing," P.T. said. "Catholic Charities gave me a food certificate (last week) for $20. I went to Safeway, bought milk and rice. Salvation Army gave me two cans of tuna, one can of sardines, tomato sauce and one pound of macaroni."

The food had to last her a week.

Her neighbors have been helping. One gave her two boxes of chicken, another a box of diapers. She is rationing diapers — four per day — for her 2-year-old daughter.

"My (13-year-old) son is asking me how come he has to wear the same clothes every time, but I tell him his clothes is clean and right now we need money to buy food," P.T. said. "My problems, they are hard. But we are fortunate for health. Nobody is sick."

Her 16-year-old daughter recently ran away. Police have been unable to find the girl, adding to P.T.'s problems.

The files of community agencies serviced by Helping Hands are filled with cases like P.T.'s.

"The difference is that these people can't even afford to stop at a fast-food restaurant and buy a 99-cent hamburger," Olds said. "There are those of us who can stop once a week to feed our family. Giving up that $5 once a week to those in need would make a big difference for them."

Stress leaving mark

Many who are struggling are under heavy stress, which takes its toll on family life.

Social workers at Child and Family Services, for example, are working on 164 cases stemming from reduced working hours or layoffs since Sept. 11.

"We're seeing an increase in the general feeling of depression, anxiety and domestic violence," said Patti Bates, vice president of programs for Child and Family Services. "The shelters on O'ahu and in Hilo are full. Since September, the bottom line is there's a 75 percent increase in domestic violence."

The good news is that there are people willing to help.

Helping Hands has received many requests from private groups seeking to adopt a family at Christmas.

Sixteen employees in HMSA's Cashier Unit, for example, gave up their Christmas party last year and adopted a family of four.

"We didn't know the family's name, but they sent us a thank-you letter," said Edwina Higashi, one of the organizers. "It was so touching. We gave the husband an aloha shirt, and in the letter, we learned he wore it to a job interview and got the job. We posted the letter. And every time we look at it, I think it makes us feel good."

The HMSA group this year is requesting to adopt a single-parent family with older children, Olds said.

Another effort is under way at Campbell High School. Joanne Rivera, Campbell's Peer Education Program coordinator, said 57 of her students are looking to adopt three families this Christmas.

The students will select the families after reviewing cases provided by Helping Hands, she said.

"We don't want kids to go out and spend money because they themselves don't have money," Rivera said. "The focus is on how we can share things with someone else when you don't have funds."

Monetary contributions made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 19155, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Anyone wishing to donate goods instead of money can do so at the Community Clearinghouse. For information call 536-7234.

As in past years, First Hawaiian Bank is also collecting donations for The Advertiser Christmas Fund. Donations, made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund may be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.