With holiday decorations and lights starting to go up, children taking pictures with Santa and his elves and many of us checking our Christmas lists, it is easy to think that this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, holidays are about hope and joy.

But for thousands of Hawai'i families, the holidays are depressing and bleak because they can barely make ends meet. Holiday spending is a far-off hope.

The Advertiser and Helping Hands Hawai'i are teaming up again this year to help make the holiday season merrier for those who have little.

Beginning tomorrow, The Advertiser will run stories daily about families in need. Drawn from case descriptions provided by Helping Hands Hawai'i, these people represent only a fraction of those who will be helped by cash and other donations.

"Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a limit to the number of people who can use our help," said state Rep. Brian Schatz, executive director of Helping Hands Hawai'i.

Schatz said that too often, families cannot buy things that many of us take for granted such as diapers, medicine, cribs and beds. Things like washers and dryers, beds and clothing are also needed by many, he said.

The Advertiser Christmas Fund has been a part of the holiday season in the Islands for more than half a century.

For each of the past five years, the fund drive has raised more than $100,000 from readers who hoped to make a difference in the lives of a family in need. Last year, the Advertiser Christmas Fund raised a record $184,297.

One generous Hawai'i resident, The Advertiser Christmas Fund's Secret Santa, has matched the first $25 of each donation for more than a decade. He donated more than $34,000 to last year's fund.

First Hawaiian Bank is again helping the fund by accepting donations (checks only) at its 56 branches throughout the state.

Readers last year also donated beds, clothing, toys, appliances and other goods.

Thanks to the generosity of Advertiser readers last Christmas, a single parent of two who had overcome obstacles in her life was able to get clothes for her fast-growing boys. A mother who had turned her life around was given a dresser and cookware. A 6-year-old who wanted a toy bus had a present to open.

And some gifts donated by readers can make an impact that goes beyond the delight of Christmas Day gifts.

One large family asked for a freezer last year after their doctor advised dietary changes because of health problems. With a limited budget, fresh food was a luxury. The family began fishing and the freezer, which was donated through the Christmas Fund, let them store their catch. Their diet has improved.

Money donated to the fund provided gift certificates to discount stores so families could buy diapers and household items. Some of the money goes into an emergency fund to help families pay rent and other bills.

Social service agencies say that while many in Hawai'i benefit from a robust economy and thriving job market, others are left behind economically.

Susan Doyle, Aloha United Way's chief operating officer, said Hawai'i's low unemployment numbers are deceptive because they don't count people who work multiple jobs and then lose one of those jobs.

"We have a very high level of people who work more than one job here, which is one of the things that hides the actual levels of poverty," said Doyle.

Dick Grimm, president of the Hawaii Foodbank, said requests for food have been slightly higher this year. Many in need of food "are gainfully employed but earn a low wage," said Grimm.

Vicki Suyat, vice president of development for Catholic Charities, also has seen the need for help increase. "We're finding more working-class people working two jobs — neither job pays a living wage — and they still can't afford Christmas for their families," she said.

Island residents gave generously this year after disasters from the Indian Ocean to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Schatz said he hopes that generous spirit continues. "This time, we have an opportunity to help our neighbors this Christmas," he said.

HOW 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.

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

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.