Posted on: Monday, December 6, 2004
ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Family needs clothes, bed for growing child
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
D.N. is a 4-year-old girl who likes going to Head Start classes, looking at books and playing with Strawberry Shortcake dolls.
D.N. has also outgrown her toddler bed, and needs a twin bed to replace it.
D.N.'s father works long hours at a fast-food restaurant and has taken on a second job. But at $7 an hour, even long hours don't pay the bills.
To donate, send checks payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817.
Monetary donations also may be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
Goods can be donated at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For details, call 440-3804. "We just take it a day at a time," D.N.'s mother said.
The family needs a twin bed for D.N., bookshelves and, if possible, a microwave oven.
D.N. needs clothes. She would be very pleased to get books and Strawberry Shortcake toys for Christmas.
Christmas Fund donations will be used for families who need help making it through the holidays. Any money remaining after the holidays will be used to help those in need throughout the year.
Our anonymous Santa is matching the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund.
Recent donations:
Total: $1,950
Previous total: $10,737 Total to date: $12,687
D.N.'s parents struggle to make sure she has enough to eat. Toys are an extravagance they can rarely afford, and D.N.'s wardrobe never expands fast enough to keep up with her rapidly growing body; she is already nearly 4 feet tall and weighs 50 pounds.
D.N.'s 23-year-old mother is smart at budgeting and makes sure her family eats, but D.N.'s teenage aunt and uncle recently moved in, and the family budget is stretched thin.
How to help
