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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, December 9, 2003

ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Family struggles to afford diapers for kids, basic furnishings

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

"K.L." came to Hawai'i last December from the Republic of the Marshall Islands with her husband and two sons. She gave birth to a daughter two months ago.

The family lives in a stuffy two-bedroom apartment with K.L.'s parents, a sister and her husband and their five children, and a niece and nephew, who are both young children. Her husband doesn't earn enough from his minimum-wage job as a maintenance worker to support the family.

The group survives by pooling their resources to pay rent and buy food. K.L.'s children receive welfare assistance.

Her oldest son is autistic and still wears diapers. The family sleeps on bedding laid out on the floor. The infant sleeps in a low crib that their social worker said is unsafe.

K.L.'s biggest need is for diapers. She can only afford 10 a day for the two children and said she sometimes has to reuse some or have the children go without.

Besides diapers, the family would like a fan, futon mattress and small folding table, which would be the only furniture in the apartment. Her husband would like a bus pass so he wouldn't have to rely on catching a ride to work.

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.