LIHUE — 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.
The following are some stories we would like to share with our readers.
w Nia is a 13-year-old who is intellectually disabled and requires the use of a G Tube and wheelchair. She resides with her parents and siblings in Lihue and is currently attending middle school. She has a Personal Assistance Habilitation worker who works on her goals to increase her independence. One of her goals is to be able to increase her mobility. The request is for financial assistance to make her home environment more accessible as well as have the appropriate tools to increase her muscle strength.
• Kai is a 33-year-old man who is intellectually disabled with cerebral palsy, seizures and other medical conditions. He resides with his family and has a Personal Assistance Habilitation worker who works on his goals to increase his independence. The request is for funding to purchase wipes as his family uses their own monies to purchase wipes from Costco monthly.
• Billy is a 20-year-old man who lives with his extended family. Billy and his family moved to Kauai when he was 11. He is intellectually disabled, requires constant supervision due to his daily seizures, and uses a wheelchair to help with his mobility. He enjoys watching TV and being with family. The request is for financial assistance in supporting Billy and his family with daily living expenses.
• Moku is a 25-year-old man who lives with his mother and step-father. Moku is disabled and requires someone to be with him at all times. He has extended family that help with taking care of him. Any funding assistance to support his family with everyday expenses will be most appreciative.
• Dee is a 30-year-old woman with mild intellectual disability and diabetes. She resides with a caregiver and her family. Dee enjoys listening to music and surfing the internet. Her goal is to one day live independently. She currently works part-time at a restaurant to increase her independence skills and has a Personal Assistance worker to support her healthy living. The request is for any financial assistance to keep supporting her healthy living of exercising regularly at a gym and eating a healthy diet.
• Malu is a 29-year-old man who is intellectually disabled with autism and nutrition concerns. Malu is very close to his family. He has a Personal Assistance worker who helps him on his goals to increase his independence. The request is for any assistance with his living expenses as he lives with a live-in caregiver.
• Lehua is a 53-year-old disabled woman who was homeless. She was able to get into a transitional housing program in her journey to being able to get permanent, stable housing. Lehua is in need of household items to furnish her current place. Her biggest thing she would like to get is a bed. She currently sleeps on a futon on the floor.
• Gary and Annie are an elderly couple living in transitional housing with an adult child until they can secure a more permanent home. They were living in a tent on the beach until a friend stepped in to get them into a safe space temporarily. Gary and Annie have multiple medical issues and have made several trips to the ER and admitted overnight. They are in need of clothes, dishes, cleaning supplies and plastic storage containers. Anything at this time will be a great help.
• David is a 63-year-old man with intellectual disabilities living in a licensed care home. He has family on Oahu that he would normally visit, especially during the holidays. However, since he is on a fixed income, he no longer can afford to travel to Oahu to visit his family. His wish is to be able to go and spend the holidays with his aunty and her ohana on Oahu.
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-Kauai.org, or checks can be made payable to The Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, P.O. Box 3032, Lihue, HI 96766.
