Just four months ago, C.P.'s family of five was living on the beach. Today, C.P. said she feels "blessed" that her family was taken into transitional housing and given a second chance.

It hasn't always been this way for her family. Earlier this year, they lived in their own apartment. But then the rent increased. The family couldn't afford it and ended up at a park.

C.P. said although she was devastated, she was determined to improve the situation for the sake of her 3-year-old son and 2-year-old twin girls. "They didn't deserve this," she said.

During the day, C.P. and her husband would go to their jobs and C.P.'s mother would baby-sit the children. But at night, the family was too large to stay with relatives. "We slept in the car at a park," she said.

C.P. said it felt like a miracle when her family was accepted into transitional housing. The family has been looking for permanent housing, but for now, C.P. said, she is thankful just to have a roof over her head.

The family has no furniture and sleeps on the floor with a few blankets. C.P. would like beds for her children. "At night when I see my babies sleeping on the floor, it brings tears to my eyes," she said.

C.P.'s 3-year-old son has asked Santa for a bike, and the twin girls need clothes. The children also would like a bunk bed.

Christmas Fund donations are used for families who need help through the holidays. Any money remaining afterward will be used to help those in need throughout the year.

Our anonymous Santa will match the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund.

HOW TO DONATE

Send checks payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Checks also may be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.

For those interested in making credit card donations, please call Helen at 440-3831 with your name, address, credit card number, expiration date and amount of donation.

Material goods may be taken to the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For details, call 440-3804.

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND

Mike & Nancy Fisch $1,000
Van’s Flooring & Tile Inc. $500
John Lynch in memory
of Daisy Lynch $400
Garret Y.H. Choy $300
Happy Birthday Jesus $300
Zadoc White Brown $250
Media Links $250
Martin & Laura Black $200
Contemporary Gardens $200
Kay & Dick Hollier $200
Santa Claus for
Adopt A Family $200
Retired Educators of Aikahi Elementary School: Gladys Aloiau, Dot Aragaki, Suye Hayashida, Laura Kitamura, Cheryl McCraw, Wini Naganuma, Barbara Nagaue, Margaret Nosaka, Ann Ono, Nancy Shimamoto, Lorna Tam Ho, Roberta Tokumaru, Eleanor Tokunaga, Dolly Towne
& Jean Tsuda $175
John & Mary Fitzgerald $150
Suzuki Family in loving memory of Remington $150
Michael & Karen Straskraba $120
Robert H C & Kiyono H. Au $100
George & Eileen Baker $100
Rae Ifuku & Trevor W. Benn $100
Christopher Brown $100
Darcella Cooper Sanders $100
Ken & Rene Davis $100
Davis Family $100
Divers Family $100
Jim & Jo-Ann Gaines $100
Hawaii Justice Foundation $100
Milton & Flo Kakaio $100
Gerald & Ann Marten $100
Jenna & Micah Morikuni $100
Edward & Jane Oda in memory of Lance Takayuki Oda $100
Kenneth Ogami $100
Kenneth & Amy Oshiro $100
P & J $100
Russell & Debbie Pang in
memory of Jesus Christ $100
Jeffrey & Shannon Piper $100
Roman & Luz Rivera $100
Kenneth & Angeles Sayler $100
Frank & Clara Felix Schrader in memory of Paul Schrader $100
Byrd Smith $100
Leroy Spencer $100
Michael & Laurie Walsh $100
William Watkins & Ok Cha
Cwiklinski in memory of Eliza-
beth & Lawrence Watkins $100
Stanley Yamashita $100
Katherine & Rudy Yap for
Adopt A Family $100
In memory of Tutu Man & Tutu Lady Aila, Love Kupunas Dorian, Keala, Desiree, Loius, Isaiah, Adia, Pua, Kalei & Ardre $100
Kay & Wade Beppu $75
Muramoto Family $60
Dionicia Agbayani in loving
memory of Urbano C. Munabi Jr.
& Eric A. Agbayani $50
Carole & Bob $50
Herman & Joyce Chun in memory of Sing & Rose Kwock $50
Betty June & Young Sup
Chun $50
Fanny Fernandes & Lucille Hill
for Adopt A Family $50
Amia Ferrraro $50
Miyeko & Randall Fujiki $50
Alexander & Lucille Hill for
Adopt A Family $50
Tony & Sandy Lanias $50
David S. Lim Jr. from Santa $50
Faculty & Staff, Maryknoll School from Theresa, Jane, Heidi,
Lloyd & Fran $50
L. & C. Medeiros $50
Jeannie Mercado-Catalan —
Merry Christmas in memory
of Haksoon & James Mercado
& Rene Catalan $50
Caryn Rosen $50
Kasey M. L. Sabin in honor of his Grandmother, Marjorie Sabin $50
May & Ray Tamura $50
Terri & Pat $50
Alvin Tuvera for
Adopt A Family $50
Rice Family for
Adopt A Family $45.50
Verna Anama $25
Bruce Ashford $25
Robyn Au in loving memory
of Thimasine Au Kelly $25
Robyn Au in loving memory
of Marc V. Oley $25
Joshua Cohen $25
Nadine Cohen $25
Melba Gica-Mariano & Ethel
Plymale $25
Yuriko Hamada $25
Stanley Hamada $25
Christian Hamada $25
Alice Lemon $25
Dane Lospoc $25
Hisao & Hannah Nakamura $25
Jenna A. U. Oley $25
Pepper $25
Garman & Nancy Pond $25
James T. Rosenswike $25
Roy Shigemura $25
Bobbye & Tim Smythe $25
May Tomihama $25
Charles K. C. Young $25
Lillie & Wanda China $20
Tsoong Nyee Society $20
Anonymous $200
Anonymous in memory
of R.J.B. $200
Anonymous in memory
of Betty Kakazu $100
Anonymous $100
Anonymous $100
Anonymous $50
Anonymous $50
Anonymous $35
Anonymous $30
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $25
Anonymous $20
Anonymous $20
Total $9,985.50
Previous total $90,060.90
Total to date $100,046.40

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.