ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Young son helped her go straight

"P.A." stopped doing crystal methamphetamine two years ago after she found herself in a homeless shelter unable to care for her young son.

"I hit rock-bottom," said 22-year-old P.A., who got hooked on ice at age 16.

"I was stealing from my relatives and trying to get money any way possible to get drugs. My family just got tired of picking me up and let me fall on my face."

Her son, now 8, made her want to clean up.

"I lost his trust," she said. "He wouldn't let me leave him anywhere alone, not even for a second.

"He was afraid I wouldn't come back."

P.A., who dropped out of high school, has moved into a public housing unit. She gave birth to her second child three months ago and lives on welfare payments.

"This is a start to getting back on my feet," P.A. said.

P.A. would appreciate men's medium-size shorts and shirts for her older son and bath towels to replace the worn-out three she has. She could also use two fans to circulate air in the apartment because one of her children has asthma.

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

• NSI $5
• Wilfred and Louise Mattos $10
• Gloria Rodrigues $10
• Gerald and Carol Tossey $10
• T. Among $20
• Lawrence Kam $20
• Kehaulani Kea $20
• Herbert and Jane Niitsuma $20
• Floria Pang $20
• Jennifer Ahn $25
• AYF $25
• Celeste Chung $25
• Nadine Cohen $25
• Joshua Cohen $25
• Eric and Mark Fukui $25
• Yuriko Hamada $25
• Christian Hamada $25
• Stanley Hamada $25
• In Loving Memory of Aunty Linda Sasaki Scanlon $25
• In Loving Memory of Hannah Kushiyama and Carol Kakogawa $25
• In Loving Memory of Kay $25
• In Loving Memory of Tina Gomes $25
• In Memory of George H. Bates $25
• In Memory of Lavinia $25
• In Memory of Uncle "Bull" Sumida $25
• George and Lillian Kaneshiro $25
• Hiroshi Kato $25
• Dennis Kawahara $25
• Helen Kihara $25
• Keith and Anita Larson $25
• Thomas and Cheryl Lau $25
• Law Office of David B. Rosen $25
• Clarence Liu $25
• Joseph and Gladys Lopes $25
• Lola Luke $25
• E. and V. J. Madamba $25
• Phillip and Cheryl Miller $25
• Nancy Morrissette $25
• Spencer Murphy $25
• Hanako and Lloyd Nakagawa $25
• Shane and Stephanie Nonaka $25
• Ian and Claudia Osborne $25
• Cora Palyo $25
• Richard and Diana Rittmeister $25
• John and Fukie Roufs $25
• Albert Schutz $25
• Beatrice Shinoda $25
• Blaine Shishido $25
• Robert Sumida $25
• Eustace and Misako Suzuki $25
• Kary Takaezu $25
• Daniel and Ethic Takamatsu $25
• Sesilia Tatofi $25
• Tiana, Chasity, Preston $25
• Verna & Greg $25
• Carl Wild $25
• Elizabeth Young $25
• Jeanette and Alan Young $25
• In Memory of Mama and Papa, Tutu and Granddad, Tutu and Grandpa Perry $30
• Mahalo Jesus $30
• Clifford and Edna Nishimura $30
• Rollin and Esther Reineck $30
• Harry and Manuosefusi Maxwell $40
• Elizabeth and Daniel Berman $50
• Shari Endo $50
• Excel Dental Lab, Inc. $50
• Lori Fairfax $50
• Yvonne Firing $50
• Marcia Haoatai $50
• Chula Harrison $50
• Sylvia Hormann-Alper $50
• In Loving Memory of Francie and Lani Thomas $50
• In Loving Memory of Grandpa & Grandma Endo $50
• In Loving Memory of Grandpa Jim and Grandma Lorraine Sasaki $50
• In Memory of Herbert H. Hee $50
• In Memory of Reynold Y.S. Leong $50
• In Memory of Verna K. Olson $50
• Alan Lau $50
• Lindsey and Rand $50
• Michael and Theresa Monis $50
• Barbara Norfleet $50
• Violet Oyama $50
• Linda Payes $50
• Rachelle Rodrigues $50
• John Shim $50
• Linda and Bruce Soll $50
• K. and B. Stenhouwer $50
• Norma Sullivan $50
• The Kim's Granchildren $50
• Danny and Janet Young $50
• In Memory of Tutu, Opa and Papa $75
• Mark and Susan Yeackel $85
• 'Aiea Boy in Idaho Falls, Idaho $100
• James Gomard $100
• Paula Harris $100
• In Honor of Jesus $100
• In Loving Memory of Capt. Gabriel Sr., Remedious, Gabriel Jr. and Marcos Garduque $100
• In Loving Memory of George Choy $100
• In Memory of Advertiser Photographer Carl Viti $100
• In Memory of Baker H. Shiroma $100
• In Memory of Henry J. Choy $100
• Marty Joseph $100
• Bruce and Janet Katakura $100
• Susan Killeen $100
• Lloyd and Jennie Kimura $100
• Raymond and Carolyn Kurosu $100
• Paul and Pearl Ling $100
• Lillian Jeskey Lubag $100
• Manuel R. & Margaret M. Sylvester Foundation $100
• Mozes Mudd $100
• Max Mudd $100
• Alfred and Dorothy Nell Nakaima $100
• Tsutomi and Jean Oki $100
• Judy Park $100
• Barbara Schneider $100
• Warren and Dorothy Smith $100
• Sandra Stoner $100
• Susan, Stuart, Elliot, Erika, Hugh and Family $100
• David Watson and Abby Brown-Watson $100
• Walter and Narcissus Yap $100
• The Johnson Kids $150
• Bow Yee Tong Association $200
• Jerry, Lynn & Bria Hiromoto $250
• Linda and Bruce McIntosh $250
• Hattie and Bob $300
• Helemano Faculty and Staff $923
• Billie McGill $1,200
• Anonymous $181
• Anonymous $20
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $35
• Anonymous $50
• Anonymous $50
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $140

Total: $10,204.00

Total to date: $36,035.75