ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Family's budget leaves no room for gifts for 4 keiki
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
J.P., her husband, V.P., and their four children are living with family members. All six share a single room.
J.P. said things are getting better. V.P. has been working as a truck driver now for almost a year, and she hopes he'll be up for promotion and a raise soon.
J.P. baby-sits to try to make ends meet, but their income still doesn't cover all the bills.
The family is on a list to get into a small cottage near V.P.'s mother. The rent is low, J.P. said.
"It's up to the landlord," she said, "but it looks like we have a pretty good chance. Maybe in February."
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.
J.P. and V.P. are holding to a tight budget, trying to see their way through to the day the family is on its own.
How to help
Meanwhile, the kids could use a dresser for their clothes, J.P. said. The plastic drawers they are using are cracked and falling apart.
Her 5- and 7-year-old daughters are hoping for bikes, and her 12-year-old son would like a CD player. The older kids also need backpacks for school.
The youngest, 3, could use a stroller.
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. For information on how to donate, see the "How to Help" box.
Our anonymous Santa is matching the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund.
Recent donations:
- Ross & Mari $249
- Cheong Lum $150
- Ronald W. & Lillian C. Hasselman $110
- In Loving Memory of George and Kate $100
- In Memory of Ret. Capt. Kenneth West $100
- Garret A. Masuda $100
- M. Lucile Waldron $100
- David & Abby Watson $100
- Eric & Mark Fukui $50
- Ethan & Grandpa $50
- Marc A. Kowalski $50
- Richard, Fumi, Tyler and Jaedyn $50
- Eloise S. Van Niel $50
- Kristi A. Schaller $30
- From M.O. & S.O. $25
- In Loving Memory of Peter James K. Loo $25
- In Memory of Charles "Scrooge" Takahama $25
- Victor G. & Maureen A. Kreck $25
- Bill Lee Jr. $25
- Yuriko K. Lum $25
- Pedro M. & Jane T. Poentis $25
- Irwin W.C. and Gladys L. Thom $25
- George K. Iwanaga $20
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $50
Total $1,759
Previous total $14,612
Total to date $16,371
