LIHU‘E — Through Christmas Eve, The Garden Island will share daily, front-page stories about families and individuals (we don’t use their real names), who are facing challenges and would appreciate a little help this holiday season.
The Christmas Fund is an avenue for everyone to provide that assistance. Donations are used by Zonta Club members to purchase gift certificates that are in turn distributed to families and individuals through social-service agencies.
Each donation is accounted for and recorded. There are no administrative costs involved, and money goes directly to provide for those in need of Christmas presents and groceries.
If you hold a fundraiser for the Christmas Fund, let us know and we’ll spread the word. Anyone making a donation of $200 or more can have their picture published in TGI.
Also, for every $250 donation given to the Christmas Fund, Hale Uluwehi Charitable Foundation will match up to $5,000.
Donations may be made by way of the website, Zonta-Kaua‘i.org, or checks can be made payable to The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Foundation, P.O. Box 3032, Lihu‘e, HI 96766.
The following are some of stories we would like to share with our readers.
• Barry is a 7-year-old boy, who lives alone with his mother. Mom is hardworking and raising her son without help. She is trying to build her private business, but has financial issues meeting all of her expenses most months. Mom is in therapy and working on her trauma from the military and her marriage. Barry witnessed his parents arguing and his mother struggling with her own mental health issues. Barry likes to be outdoors playing; he enjoys skateboarding and riding a bike.
• Kiara is a 9-year-old girl living in foster care with a resource caregiver. She has been emotionally and sexually abused in the past, as well as neglected. Kiara has been exposed to things beyond her years. Despite her experiences, she is delightful and friendly. She looks on the bright side of life.
Kiara is enjoying her foster home where she feels safe and can decorate her own room for the first time. She enjoys art and watching kid shows on a borrowed tablet. She also enjoys playing outdoors and going to the beach.
• Rosie is a 13-year-old girl, who lives with her mother, an autistic older brother and a toddler brother. She has witnessed domestic violence aimed at her mother and older brother. She no longer has contact with her birth father. She feels safe with just mom, but worries about her siblings who still must visit their father. Rosie is a wonderful writer and does very well in school. She enjoys the outdoors and working on her stories.
• China is a 16-year-old girl, who lives with her mother; her parents are divorced. As a younger child, she was molested by more than one offender at different times. She has kept it to herself until recently. China likes school and is taking advanced classes at her high school.
Other than school, she stays to herself and spends a lot of time in her room. She is starting to feel safer and takes martial arts classes to protect herself. China would benefit from some new clothes and she would enjoy art supplies or books.
