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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, December 8, 2007

ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Oahu father puts his family before pride

 • 
Help our neighbors in need

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

HOW TO DONATE

Send checks, payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund," to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817. Helping Hands will accept credit card donations by telephone, 440-3831. Monetary donations may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch or The Advertiser's cashier desk.

To donate online, go to: www.honoluluadvertiser.com and click on the Christmas Fund icon. Monetary donations help operate Community Clearinghouse programs year-round.

The Advertiser's "Secret Santa" will match the first $25 of every donation to the fund. The anonymous philanthropist last year pitched in $32,600.

Material goods may be taken to the Community Clearinghouse, 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For large-item pickup and additional information, call 440-3804.

Donations may be made to particular families, but please specify the family. The money will be given in the form of a Wal-Mart, Kmart or Longs gift certificate.

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The father of two is embarrassed when he has to go to a Makiki park to pick up food donations for his family.

He knows that the agency distributing the food there allows families to receive donations only once every three months.

But sometimes his family runs out of food, leaving him to swallow his pride and show up again to ask for help.

"I really feel ashamed," he said softly. "I feel guilty, but I keep going over there."

The 38-year-old husband and father, who asked not to be identified, said it's hard to pay for rent, bills and food on his salary as a part-time forklift driver for an airline. He's trying to find a second part-time job and is hoping to secure a full-time job at the airline.

He said if he doesn't find a way to increase his income soon, he may move to Alaska to work.

But in the meantime, the family of four just tries to survive on a limited budget.

His children, 14 and 16, know not to ask for much. When they do ask, it's for things like school supplies, underwear and shoes.

The family moved to Hawai'i from Chuuk several years ago seeking better medical treatment for his wife, who is diabetic. She has since had two toes amputated as of a result of her condition and had cataract surgery, although her sight still isn't clear.

The family, which has been living in public housing in Wai'anae for a couple of years, is trying to find housing in Hono-lulu, where they used to live.

The children wake before dawn to go to school in Honolulu, where they have friends. His 14-year-old daughter tried attending school closer to home but was constantly taunted and picked on by students there, he said.

The family's wish list includes a queen-size bed and clothes. Mother and father would also appreciate a gas gift card so they can have some extra money to do something special for their children this Christmas.

The 14-year-old girl wears a size 27x24 pants and XL shirt/dress; the 16-year-old boy wears a 38x30 pants and an XL shirt. The father wears a 42x32 pants and a 2XL shirt, and his wife wears a size 16 pants and 18 shirt/dress.

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND

Alfred Chamizo — $1,000

Hilo Seaside Hotel — $1,000

Kona Seaside Hotel — $1,000

Maui Seaside Hotel — $1,000

Roger & Brenda Yamane, in memory of Hajime Yamane — $250

Honolulu Advertiser Newsroom CD/book/food sale — $227

Philibert & Ernestine Akau, Philibert Kauffman — $200

Ruth Ann Nishikawa & Carol Sartain — $200

Barbara & Richard Bonnardel, in memory of our parents — the Bonnardels & Farrous — $100

Joyce Cassen, in memory of Daniel C. Levey — $100

Richard Fahrenwald — $100

Mabel Garduque, in loving memory of Capt. Gabriel Garduque, Remenioues, Marcos
& "Big Papa" — $100

Evelyn Kirihara — 100

Douglas & Karen Moore — $100

Milton & Maddie Oshiro — $100

Anne & Henry Rinnert — $100

Randolph & Spephanie Sakaye — $100

Julian Showkeir & Mickey Salwyn — $100

Judith Burns, lovingly remembering my son Ronnie — $100

Jeanette Young — $75

Belle Mann — $72

Ruth & James Burkholder — $50

Harry & Yu Mei King — $50

Ken S. Marume — $50

Anne Rauh — $50

Simonne D. Rivera — $50

Nyssa & Allegra Thompson — $50

Barney Gomes — $35

Gift to Yuriko Hamada — $30

Gift to Christian Hamada – Yuriko's grandson — $30

Gift to Joshua Cohen — Yuriko's grandson — $30

Gift to Nadine Cohen — Yuriko's daughter — $30

Gift to Verna Anama — Yuriko's daughter — $30

Stanley Hamada — Yuriko's son — $30

Gift to Greg T. Nakamura — $30

M.L. & Ray Higa — $30

Frank Mauz, in loving memory of Loretta Mau & Emma Mauz — $30

Barbara & Richard Bonnardel, in honor of Colt and the entire football team — $25

Harold & Sharon Fukioka — $25

Frank & Priscilla Gaison — $25

Marilynne Grilho — $25

M. & S. O. — $25

Aileen & Peter Potter — $25

WPA MOMS Club Kids — $25

Suzanne Cummings — $10

Gale & Arnold Warshawsky — $5

Anonymous — $200

Anonymous — $200

Anonymous, in memory of Frank K. Ebisuya, Dennis H. Oishi & Irene T. Odagiri — $150

Anonymous — $100

Anonymous — $100

Anonymous — $100

Anonymous — $100

Anonymous — $50

Anonymous — $25

Anonymous — $25

Anonymous — $25

Anonymous — $25

Total — $8,019

Previous total — $57,684.64

Total to date — $65,703.64

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.