Posted on: Monday, November 29, 2004
CHRISTMAS FUND
Family escapes tent life, could use some furniture
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Raising a baby and a toddler while living in a tent on the beach wasn't easy for D.H. and C.H.
Things are better now. The couple and their two daughters, ages 1 and 2, were accepted into a transitional living program.
They now have a home — with a refrigerator.
With an address to use and clean clothes to wear while job-hunting, D.H. has found work. C.H. will start work as soon as the couple is able to find and afford childcare.
"I'm a telephone operator at (a hotel)," D.H. said. "I love it."
The family is looking forward to Christmas in the new home, but a little bit of furniture would make it better.
The only thing they have is a mattress. The whole family sleeps on it.
D.H. would like to have a couch. The one given to them by a church fell apart. She also would like dressers for their clothes.
A table and chairs also would be welcome.
"We usually just sit on the ground in front of our house to eat," she said.
Donations will be used for families who need help making it through the holidays. Any Christmas Fund money remaining after the holidays will be used to help those in need throughout the year.
Our anonymous Santa is matching the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund.
• • • 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. Donations will be used for families who need help making it through the holidays. Any Christmas Fund money remaining after the holidays will be used throughout the year to help those in need. Goods may be donated at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For details, call 440-3804. Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
"It was hard," said D.H., a 19-year-old wife and mother of two. "When it rained, the water would go right through our tent. We didn't have any way to keep the baby's milk cold."
