ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Escaping abuse creates needs
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
At this time last year, "K.L." and her eight children were far from being needy.
"My kids had everything, even TV in their rooms," she said. The price for it, however, was tolerating an abusive relationship.
K.L. and her children — ages 14, 13, 11, 9, 6, 5, 3 and 2 — left everything behind earlier this year to escape domestic violence.
Today, K.L. is a full-time community college student who works part-time and somehow finds time to support her children's after-school activities such as Girl Scouts, sports and church.
"There are so many people in worse situations than me," she said. "If I can stay healthy, I know I'm capable of making it."
K.L. and her family need school supplies, such as backpacks and computer disks, as well as clothes (girls size 10-14 pants; men's pants with a 32 waist) and shoes or slippers (child's size 7, to adult 10). Shampoos, baby soap and other toiletry items would also be appreciated.
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.
• • •
Recent Advertiser Christmas Fund donations
- Patrick O. Carvalho $20
- In Memory of Art & Myra $20
- Gregory Barrett and Diane Barrett Henry $25
- Wes Couthen $25
- Jeri Couthen $25
- Brandon Marc T. Higa $25
- In Memory of Helen Bains-Jordan $25
- In Memory of Sue Holmes $25
- George and Gloria Jacang $25
- Annie Kau $25
- Joseph and Loretta Keanu $25
- Richard and Norma Ma $25
- Constance McQuillan $25
- Samantha and Zachari Poei $25
- BJ and Chuck Schrader $25
- Helen Tanaka $25
- William and Patti Tildsley $25
- Laurie Hink White $25
- Katherine Holloway $35
- In Memory of Toshi Ige $50
- Robert and Edna Kuniyuki $50
- Harry and Annette Nishida $50
- Harold and June Wright $50
- Maryknoll Grade School's Faculty and Staff $61
- Alfred and Dorothy Nell Bloom $100
- Bill and Betty Fiddler $100
- In Loving Memory of Sadako Higa $100
- Robert Kim, M.D., and Martha May Kim $100
- Henry and Edwina Marcus $100
- Mel, Dar, Chad & Quin $100
- Soichi Matsuoka $100
- Craig Nakamura $100
- Anonymous $20
- Anonymous $50
- Anonymous $200
Total $1,806
Total to date $12,341
