Girl needs software for school
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
"E.J." left his wife and 13-year-old son in the Philippines when he came to Hawai'i in July 1995 with his daughter to seek a better life.
His plan was to get a good job, establish a home here and reunite his family. However, his 14-year-old daughter was stricken four years ago with a severe case of viral encephalitis. E.J.'s mother cared for his daughter at home for three years, so the girl is now able to speak, walk and attend school.
His mother, however, died earlier this year, leaving E.J., 41, and his brother, 31, to care for their father, 76, as well as the girl.
"It's hard, but we try," E.J. said.
He recently accepted a lower-paying job — $8 an hour — because it comes with medical benefits. His brother earns $10 an hour. Together, they make ends meet.
E.J. said his daughter has made good use of a donated secondhand Dell computer with a CD drive and 17-inch monitor for her schoolwork. But the system needs to be upgraded with more memory and programs that E.J. cannot afford. It is the only thing the family is requesting for Christmas.
Our anonymous Santa has generously offered once again this year to match the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund. Checks made payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" should be mailed to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817.
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.
Advertiser Christmas Fund donations
- Jeff and Barbara Benso $10
- Malia Yoshida $15
- Colette, Noah, Maiki
- & Snoopy Furutan $25
- Helen Nagamine $25
- Wesley Okumura $25
- Eugene Kamimura $40
- Mr. & Mrs. Calvin K. H. Loo $50
- Jaya, Andrew & Alan Poepoe $50
- Teri & Pat $50
- Richard and Gina Burns $100
- Dr. Kleona Corsini $100
- In Memory of Raymond and Joyce Usui $100
- K. Matsumoto $100
- Bill and Diane $200
- Thomas Williams $250
- Ida Holtsinger $1,000
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $50
- Anonymous $100
Total: $2,340
Total to date: $10,535
