Donor helps families with $1,000 in thrift shop's gift certificates
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
A generous woman who liked the looks of the Assistance League of Hawaii Thrift Shop and the Helping Hands Hawai'i/Honolulu Advertiser Christmas Fund has combined two charities in her holiday giving this year.
"A lady came into our shop, looked around, and decided she liked what she saw," said Carol Boback, vice chair of public relations for the Assistance League. "She bought $1,000 in gift certificates with the stipulation they be used by the families of The Advertiser Christmas Fund."
The Assistance League is a charitable organization operated entirely by volunteer workers. League members tutor children, buy clothes for students, give aid to victims of trauma and educate fourth-graders in environmental concerns. They also run a thrift shop at 1505 Young St.
Boback said the woman who wrote the check for the gift certificates did not want her name revealed, preferring to be called "an Assistance League benefactor." Boback said that the woman is not a member of the League, but that they hope they can make her one.
Capsun Poe, program manager at Helping Hands Hawai'i, said he was very pleased when the League told him they would deliver 20 gift certificates, for $50 each, for The Advertiser Christmas Fund families to his office at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
The certificates will be used toward mending the gaps for families whose Christmas lists weren't filled by other donors, he said.
Christmas Fund donations are 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.
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.
Our anonymous Santa is matching the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund.
Goods can be donated at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For information, call 440-3804.
