F.D. is determined to avoid the pitfalls. She's been clean and sober for three years; no ice, no booze.

It's been hard work.

After drug therapy, she went through anger management and parenting classes. She saw a therapist, and she dumped her boyfriend with criminal tendencies. She got a job and a place to live.

She follows her 12-step programs, and all of her hard work has paid off.

"It's official," she said. "I've got custody of my girls!"

Her daughters, a first-grader who loves to dance Tahitian-style with her mom and a very independent 4-year-old, need clothes.

The oldest girl wants a Barbie house, and the youngest wants a toy box.

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:

• Hawaii Hope Mission Baptist Church $500
• Troy E. K. & Monica M. Montayre $500
• June Naughton $500
• Vincent Tortolano $500
• Joseph & Gail Freeman of Gold Hill, OR $250
• Bow Yee Tong Association $200
• Laurie Doerschlen & Tim Williams $200
• In Memory of Hajime Yamane $200
• Chloe Yamamoto $200
• J.J. & M.L. Jaquette $100
• Garret A. Masuda $100
• Laure & Joseph Burke $100
• Richard Fall $100
• Richard & Bonnie Green $100
• Honi Lani Hearn $100
• In Loving Memory of Daniel C. Levey $100
• In Loving Memory of Geneva Ward $100
• In Loving Memory of Mary Gray who loved Christmas $100
• In Memory of Advertiser Photographer Carl Viti $100
• In Memory of B. Allen & Allen B. Richardson M.D.'s $100
• In Memory of Dr. Robert James $100
• In Memory of George, John, Brian & Michael Becker $100
• In Memory of Kimiyo O. Kondo $100
• In Memory of Mary & Norio Akutagawa $100
• Miles & Gayle Ishima $100
• Raymond & Patsy Kanzaki $100
• Lot & Peggy Lau $100
• Michael Lee $100
• Stephen G. Lee $100
• Audrey & Walen Lum $100
• Nancy & Art Moss $100
• Sean Nonaka $100
• Carl Reber $100
• Helen Sheehan $100
• Kevin Steiger $100
• Tom-Helen-Erin-Tommy-Just $100
• Marion Vaught $100
• Pacific Therapeutic Massage $100
• GRJ Realty LLC $100
• Justin Taylor Chang $50
• Sheila & Glenn Chena $50
• Thomas & Ethel Fragas $50
• From Bruce & Laura $50
• From Sato Hijirida, DBA Wendy H. $50
• From The Kims' Grandchildren & Great Granddaughter $50
• Melvin Ige $50
• In Memory of Kwan Yan & Hattie Au $50
• In Memory of Stanley P. Hu $50
• Frederick & Sheena Ing $50
• Thomas & Amy Kunz $50
• Irne Leong $50
• Ezekiel Marshal $50
• Ryan & Dawn Marugame $50
• Nicholas Miller $50
• Aaron Miller $50
• Chasity Molina $50
• Winifred Nakamura $50
• Darick & Marilyn Ramos $50
• Lauren & George Tsuchida $50
• Wakeman $50
• Max Minor $35
• Col. Rollin & Esther Reineck $35
• Erwin Acierto $25
• Andre Auw $25
• Barbara and Bob - California $25
• Gregory Busher $25
• Bruce & Denise Ellinwood $25
• Bruce H. & Denise F. Ellinwood $25
• In Loving Memory of Glenn $25
• In Loving Memory of Harold $25
• In Loving Memory of Karen $25
• In Loving Memory of Susan Lee Lucacovic $25
• In Loving Memory of Yoshiyuki Takahashi $25
• Laurie Jorgensen $25
• Adrian & Laureen Kwock $25
• Pamela Matsukawa
• & Peter Medeiros $25
• Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Niitsuma $25
• Richard & Florence Okamoto $25
• Julita & Clyde Sauget $25
• The Isobe Family $25
• Helen Uyehara $25
• Windward Unity Uniteens $25
• Richard & Charmaine
• Yniguez $25
• George & Gayle $20
• Jason Kino $10
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $100
• Anonymous $50
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25
• Anonymous $25

Total: $8,575.00

Previous total: $53,302.44