Posted on: Saturday, December 18, 2004
ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Marshallese family gets by
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
K.O. and G.O. came to Hawai'i from the Marshall Islands four years ago when their son needed medical care.
K.O. translates documents for other Marshallese families, and sometimes they tip her a dollar or two.
"We try to maintain on my husband's budget, but it is really hard," K.O. said. "We do what needs to be done. If we have to go to the food bank, we go."
The family needs a refrigerator. K.O. could make clothes for her four children if she had a sewing machine, and G.O. could do more mechanical work if he had a set of metric tools.
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. The older children, girls 10 and 12 and a boy, 15, could use some clothes.
The family also needs sheets and towels, and grocery store gift certificates would be helpful.
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 Christmas Fund donation.
Recent donations:
Total: $6,023
Previous total: $38,106
Total to date: $44,129
G.O., who was a fisherman in the Marshall Islands, now works as a maintenance man. He makes $417 every two weeks.
The baby, a 2-year-old boy, is beginning potty training and could use some disposable underpants and real underpants.
HOW TO HELP
