Thanks to the generosity of readers, Desiree Ka'ahu and her family will be able to eat a Christmas meal together at their own table rather than on the floor.

Ka'ahu, a former medical assistant, has been dealing with severe back pain since suffering a herniated disc. Her husband is working double shifts as a security guard to support the family of four, who once lived on the beach.

After reading about the Ka'ahus in The Advertiser, people donated a dining table and chairs, beds and blankets. Ka'ahu's daughter and son also got two giant teddy bears, which the children drag into bed.

The donations moved Ka'ahu to tears.

"It was very surprising," Ka'ahu said. "I was grateful all in all. People gave us stuff that we needed."

The donations to the Ka'ahus are just one example of the generosity that has been streaming in to The Advertiser Christmas Fund. Donations will continue to be collected for the fund, which supports Community Clearinghouse.

Community Clearinghouse helps brighten the holidays for families in need as well as provide needy families with emergency financial and material assistance year-round. The fund — which has been around for more than half a century — does not pay for any administrative or overhead costs.

The MOMS Club Waipahu/ Pearl City/Aiea, a support group for stay-at-home moms, adopted a family for the first time this Christmas and hopes to do so again next year.

The local chapter — made up of about 60 members — adopted a family with three children whose father was disabled.

The group was able to gather everything on the family's wish list, including a car seat, stroller, diapers and toys, said Keiko Hassler, a vice president in charge of the organization's community service projects. They also donated Foodland and Wal-Mart gift cards.

The women also organized a garage sale in November and raised more than $100, which was donated to the Advertiser Christmas Fund.

"We could picture in our minds what this family is like, and we wanted them to have a nice Christmas too, and have all the things we enjoy with our families at Christmastime," Hassler said. "Some of our members wrapped (gifts) in Christmas wrapping, so you can just picture them opening that. It's a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling."

MOST RECENT CONTRIBUTORS

Dave & Mary Ann Berry $200

Mary & Harvey King $200

John Yamane $200

Susan & Ronald Choy in honor of Carolyn Choy $150

Sandra Kodani $150

Darcella Cooper Sands $120

Rose Brown $100

Bill & Patty Burchett in loving memory of Wade, Emmaline & Arthur Burchett $100

Linda Carlson $100

Logan & Andy Machida $100

Jordan & Jenna Nakanishi $100

Caroline & Francis Oda in loving memory of the Rev. Arthur Ward & An $100

Paul Pedersen $100

Gloria Perry $100

James & Katherine Nagata $50

Jared & Candace Nakamoto $50

Janet Short in memory of Margaret Hadley $50

The Sweeneys $50

The Wingates $50

Wallace & Karen Wong $50

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Jesus Loves You! $25

Audrey & Walen Lum $25

Al & Judy Remigio $25

Elizabeth & Gary Riley $25

Denise Sataraka $25

Barbara Sheer in memory of my daughter Patti Carroll $25

Anthony Wunsch $20

Anonymous $500

Anonymous $200

Anonymous $100

Anonymous $100

Anonymous $100

Anonymous $60

Anonymous $50

Anonymous $50

Anonymous $50

Anonymous $25

Anonymous $25

Anonymous $10


Total $ 3,785

Previous total $ 145,247.28

Total to date $ 149,032.28

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.