Posted on: Saturday, December 21, 2002
Independent-minded mother of three only wants toys for her kids
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
"J.B." is torn between following the traditional cultural practice of sending money home or pursuing her American dream.
"If I have cleaning business, I be my own boss," said 25-year-old J.B., who has been taking classes for more than a year on starting her own business. "Then one day I move in my own house. Might take long time, like 10 years, but I want to do this."
J.B. is a single parent with three children, ages 5, 3 and 9 months. She lives in a sparsely furnished public-housing unit with her diabetic mother. The family survives on welfare and food stamps.
Although money is tight, J.B. feels obligated to send some to her Pacific Island home, where her relatives are also struggling.
• 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. There are no toys in the home for J.B.'s children, the caseworker added. When asked about it, J.B. said, "I wish my children could have toys. I want them to be like other children when they go to school." The children could also use clothing, the social worker said.
J.B. doesn't want anything for herself. With a goal in life, she feels she has more than some people.
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Total to date: $36,587.36
"There are many family members here just like her who cannot break the cycle," J.B.'s caseworker said. "Most of them go back home. I think she understands that without becoming independent, she'll never be able to raise her kids how she wants to."
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