Family needs clothes, couch
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
"D.N." and her family share a three-bedroom house with eight other people in Kalihi. It's crowded, but D.N. says it's better than being homeless.
"The house is old and since we stay here, my kids always sick," said D.N., who lives with her boyfriend and three children — two girls, 6 and 3, and a 1-year-old boy — in one room.
A family of three lives in another room, while a family of five has the third room. The three families share the $850 monthly rent.
Our anonymous Santa has generously offered once again to match the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund. Monetary donations 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 440-3804.
D.N. and her boyfriend have applied for jobs, but they have been unable to find work since moving to Hawai'i from The Federated States of Micronesia. They came here seeking medical care for the boy, who had breathing problems, she said.
Checks made payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" should be mailed to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817.
"We fill out applications but don't understand all the language," said D.N., who has worked as a housekeeper.
Welfare provides them with enough to pay their share of the rent and food costs.
The family would appreciate a couch to replace an old, damaged one that they sleep on. The family also could use clothes for the children, pants sizes 6 and 4 for the girls and toddler sizes for the boy.
