Posted on: Thursday, December 23, 2004
ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Family from Philippines has hard time seeking help
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
N.L. is a hardworking woman struggling to hold together three generations of family.
A couple of years ago she was a single mother living in the Philippines. Her parents, both in their 70s, were on their own in Hawai'i.
The family decided it was time to reunite.
N.L. and her five children moved here and into her parents' home. It hasn't been easy — there is never enough money to cover expenses — but with the strength of family, they are making it work.
N.L. cleans rooms at a convalescent home during the day.
"Hard work," she said. "But that is OK. That is my job. I come home and take care of baby and wash dishes and cooking."
| How to help
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. |
N.L. and her children — a 19-year-old daughter, sons ages 15, 13 and 9 and an 8-month-old baby girl — work hard to fit into their new life. She and the older children struggle a little with English, but they are learning.
Because of their residency status, N.L.'s family doesn't qualify for state assistance. N.L. doesn't find it easy to ask for help.
"If somebody gives, it is OK, I accept," she said, when asked what her family needs for Christmas.
A case worker from a charitable organization said the family needs gift certificates for food and diapers. The baby would benefit from educational toys, and N.L. dreams about having a rice cooker.
"They don't have much furniture, and they could use a couch and a table and chairs," the case worker said. "The baby needs a high chair."
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:
- Kane'ohe Elementary School $729.82
- Reliable Hardware Company $500
- Jay S. Anderson $300
- In memory of Marc J. Kawa $250
- Gary Frederick & Laura Ing Baker $200
- Marty & Laura Black $200
- QMC X-Ray Techs $200
- Hattie & Bob $200
- Perry & Sally Sorenson $200
- The Ute Tribe $175
- In memory of BHK, Victoria & Daniel $125
- Christopher C. Brown $100
- From Mike, Mary & Michelle Yoshida $100
- From SPC David Huntington & all the soldiers of A Troop 3/4 CAV $100
- From: Rocco's family $100
- Herbert & Laura Harimoto $100
- Howard R. & Betty E. Hayashi $100
- In memory of Popo and Gung Gung Loui and Gung Gung Ho $100
- In memory of Remington Suzuki $100
- Sandra N.L. Ing $100
- A.R. Keller $100
- June C.N. Kuroda $100
- Earl Maeda $100
- Merry Christmas from Jeffrey K. & June T. Watanabe $100
- Pat Nolin & Fred Noritake $100
- Chi Ping & Richard Peterson $100
- Robert Palma Designs L.L.C. $100
- St. Louis Hui $100
- Capt. William C. & Donna D. Stacia $100
- Ralph & Lillian H. Uemae $100
- Anson, Cathy & Kristi $90
- Merry Christmas from the Kailua Cherokee Tribe! Kevan, Andrew, Keith, Luke, Joseph, Paris, Gian, Kyle $65
- Webling Aloha Club $65
- Col. William E. & Milda M. Burkhalter $50
- David D. Shinn & family $50
- Robert M. & Rachael P. Diehl $50
- Fred & Kanani Mattson $50
- Joseph A. & Mary M.L. Goulart $50
- In memory of Aunt Billy $50
- In memory of Clifford M.S. Chee $50
- In memory of Richard & Helene Yamaguchi $50
- I. Robert Nehmad $50
- Agnes P. Smith $50
- Jon T. Tsukamoto $50
- Edythe M. Yoshihara $50
- Harold I. & Mathilde N. Kamoku $45
- Dole Middle School Homeroom 64 i Anne McKnight & the ESL 7th Grade Class $30.50
- Sharon K. Egi $30
- Masaru Higa $30
- Adia Aila $25
- Desiree Aila $25
- Dorian Aila $25
- Isaiah Aila $25
- Keala Aila $25
- Louis Aila $25
- Barnes/Heisler $25
- Bonnie Kealoha & family $25
- Diane M. Choy $25
- Sheri R. Corpuz $25
- Daniel Davila, Sr. $25
- Holiannette Davila $25
- Bruce H. & Denise F. Ellinwood $25
- Rose T. & Glenn D. Fernandez $25
- Alix Amy Young $25
- Andrew David Young $25
- Austin Randall Young $25
- Kahoku Mattson $25
- Mookie, Muffin, Misty & Snowball $ 25
- Scott & Sheri Mattson $25
- Harold H. & Sharon F. Fujioka $25
- Charles N. & Elizabeth C. Helms $25
- Shirley F. & Fred S. Iha $25
- In memory of Tina Gomes $25
- In memory of Estelle Akiyama $25
- In memory of Gertrude C. Vierra $25
- In memory of Hannah Kushiyama & Carol Kakogawa $25
- In memory of Lavinia $25
- In memory of Myrna Minatodani $25
- In memory of Pepper $25
- In memory of Robert & Ruth Shimakura $25
- Fred B. Metcalf $25
- Kenneth J., Doris T. & Susan Takamiya $25
- Philip A. & Elizabeth C. Whitesell $25
- Nolan K. & Dorothy R. Yogi $25
- Jose A. & Maria A. Gomez $20
- Joanne & Darryl Jung $20
- Paula C. Maybell $20
- Zachary & Jayden Sagayaga $20
- Nicholas & Elizabeth Eason $10
- Jocelyn Gomez $10
- Jennifer Gomez $10
- Katherine R. Tracy $10
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $40
- Anonymous $35
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $20
Total: $7,625.32
Previous total: $76,856.44
Total to date: $84,481.76
