ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Family of 10 wishes for freezer, new clothing
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
When her mother died eight years ago, 22-year-old "P.A." dropped out of high school to care for her critically ill father, two sisters and five brothers. Before her father died of leukemia in 1998, he made a special request to the second eldest of his eight children.
"It was my dad's wish that I keep the family together," P.A. said. "I love my family and I'm doing this for them."
P.A. is a single parent of a boy, 6, and girl, 1. She cares for them as well as her siblings, ranging in age from 14 to 24.
Everyone pitches in to help with household chores. It allows P.A., who went back to school at age 17 to earn a high school equivalency diploma, to hold down a job as a salesclerk.
• Our anonymous Santa will match the first $25 of all contributions. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has pledged to match and double cash donations. • Donations also may 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 Road. For details, call 536-7234.
After paying for rent, food and utilities, P.A. said the family has about $200 for other expenses. She also tries to set aside some money for emergencies.
• Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17328, Honolulu, HI 96817.
Her old refrigerator broke down and she cannot afford to buy a new one. She would like to replace it, however, with a freezer.
She's currently storing food items in the two neighbors' refrigerators. Because the borrowed space is limited, P.A. can buy only small amounts of food stuffs. "If we could buy more, we could save some money," she said. "But to buy more, we need a freezer."
Family members have been getting by on hand-me-down clothing. "The teens wear the same clothing to school and are becoming self-conscious," she said. Some new clothing for them — pants for boys ages 14, 16 and 17, and a girl, 18 — as well as medium- to extra-large-size shirts would be welcomed.
• • •
Donations to The Advertiser Christmas Fund
- In memory of Bing Wah and Dorothy Fumio Wong $1,000
- Ka Mo'i Student Newspaper Adviser at Kamehameha Schools 346.05
- Joyce A. Watanabe 200
- Tennis Friends of Tessa Dye 200
- In memory of Miyono Amemiya 25
- In memory of Gayle Yoshida 50
- In memory of Yeiko Tokairin 100
- In memory of Tutu, Opa and Papa 100
- Frances M. Jorgensen 10
- Keith and Betty Kenworthy 25
- Beatrice Goodenow 25
- Gerhard C. Hamm 25
- Bruce H. and Denise F. Ellinwood 25
- Mr. G. Boat Storage, Richard and Sharron Geilenfeldt 25
- Paul K. and Sandy Y. Hoshino 25
- Frank and Lillian Lopes 25
- Katherine Mata 25
- Renee Melsh 25
- Katherine R. Tracy 25
- Felix D. Tengan 35
- Danny C.H. and Janet P.F. Young 40
- Andreas Arvman 50
- Albin J. and Margaret O. Canute 50
- Jack M. and Marie A. Feliz 50
- Ernest and Cheryle L. Santarelli Jr. 50
- John E. and Rose B. Simonds 50
- Alice S. Yasutake 50
- Barbara Ann Grimm 75
- John A. and Jeanette M. Hoag S/A 75
- Betty and Bill Fiddler 100
- David M. Gross 100
- Eleanor S. Izutsu 100
- Roy S. and Sharon A. Muraoka 100
- Warren O. and Dorothy B. Smith 100
- K & J 100
- Alex and Naomi T. Weinstein 100
- BPO DOES #171 Kailua 171
- Richard Y. Chinen 50
- Mary and Robyn Fong 50
- Margaret W. Wilson 100
- The Choy Family 100
- Anonymous 10
- Anonymous 25
- Anonymous 100
- Anonymous 100
- Anonymous 100
- Anonymous 150
- Anonymous 200
Total $4,662.05
Total to date $19,664.05
