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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, December 18, 2008

ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Job loss cuts support for daughters

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Help our neighbors in need

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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HOW TO DONATE TO THOSE IN NEED

The Advertiser's Christmas Fund is a partnership between The Advertiser, Helping Hands Hawai'i and KGMB9 to help households in need. The Advertiser is profiling some of the families.

If you want to help, send checks payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund," to Helping Hands Hawai'i, 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI 96819. Money donations may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch or The Advertiser's cashier's desk. To adopt a family, call 440-3812 or e-mail cchvolunteer@helpinghandshawaii.org.

To donate online, click on the Christmas Fund icon at www.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Material goods may be dropped off at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road, during these hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday (Dec. 20 only), 8 a.m. to noon.

To schedule a donation pick-up for large items, or to make a money donation by phone, call 440-3800.

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It was hard enough when both Kisi and Melissa Mafi-Toumolupe were working full-time and raising their family.

But a while back, Kisi Mafi-Toumolupe lost his job and hasn't been able to find another. Now they're trying to make it on Melissa's salary from her job at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki.

Her husband is at home picking up the slack now for the Kalihi family of five.

He's taking the kids, ages 3, 7 and 11, to school or picking them up afterward, Melissa said.

Her husband wants to work, but his English language skills are less than proficient. So every time he's asked to fill out an application, he has trouble, said Melissa Mafi-Toumolupe, 32.

"He's a good worker," she said. "It would be great if he could get another tree-trimming job. He has some English skills."

So as Christmas is just a week away, she said, presents are out of the question for her three daughters, who seem to always want everything they see.

"We're barely making it now," she said. "I keep telling my daughters that they have to wait for Christmas, maybe Santa will bring it."

But really, what she would like for Christmas are some gift cards toÁ buy some new clothes for her daughters and a holiday meal. The girls are different sizes and keep growing, she said.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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