LIHUE — Christmas is here, and the 34th Christmas Fund project, a partnership with the Zonta Club of Kauai and The Garden Island newspaper, has delivered gift cards and funds to eight different agencies and groups to fund their Christmas lists.
The participating groups include the Department of Health Community Service for the Developmental Disabled, the county’s Agency on Elderly Affairs, the Department of Health Child and Family Servicer, the YWCA of Kauai Family Violence Shelter, the Kauai Economic Opportunity, Catholic Charities, Women in Need and, for the first time this year, Pa‘a Lima.
Pa‘a Lima is a new nonprofit organization helping families in the Eleele Housing Project.
“The Christmas Fund Committee received 220 applications — a total of 325 adults and 162 children — nearly 500 individuals who have struggled to find a home, a job, or have other financial difficulties,” said Cyndi Ayonon, co-chair of the Christmas Fund, administered by the Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation. “Through their respective caseworker, they have requested for help with simple necessities like clothing, shoes and a gift that could put a smile on their children’s faces — things that they would otherwise not be able to afford.”
“We expanded our gift card purchases at our local Walmart, Target, Longs Drugs or Times/Big Save stores so that these families could enjoy the holidays shopping for their needs as they struggle to make ends meet,” Ayonon said. “Even buying groceries can be difficult these days. We hope to make their holidays a little bit brighter with our gift giving program.”
Regina Carvalho is the president of the Zonta Club of Kauai; Darrellyn Lemke is the Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation chair; and Marge Akana is the Christmas Fund Committee co-chair. Dimples Kano is the Christmas Fund Committee Honorary Chair.
The following are some stories we would like to share with our readers.
• Mary is a participant with an outpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting moms. She has four daughters and is a single mom. Two of the girls would love to be in art, so any help with art supplies would be nice. The third daughter will be starting school soon and the infant always needs diapers and formula. Mary’s goal is to go to college. She doesn’t get much help from the children’s fathers. Any help for this family of four daughters would be greatly appreciated.
• Delilah is a participant with an outpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting moms. She is asking for assistance for her family of six children — three boys and three girls. The boys are 6, 3 and 2 years old. The girls are 17, 11 and 9 years old. This mom would like clothing for her children this holiday and slippers, shoes, hair products and hygiene necessities. She can’t afford the things that they need and is trying to make ends meet. She struggles with addiction and is currently taking classes. She is separated from her husband and is a stay-at-home mom. She has bills and household needs and is struggling. She is going to counseling and in treatment and is applying for jobs but it’s difficult with the children. Her babies are her life, any help will be appreciated.
• Shelcee is a participant with an outpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting moms. She is asking for assistance for her family of eight. She has 6 children, ages 12, 9, 7, 6, 3 and 5 months. She needs help in getting her children gifts for Christmas this year. They would love to have a gift from mom since they haven’t had a gift from her for 3 years now. After all the bills are paid and food purchased they have no cash left for gifts. They could really need some new clothing, footwear and hair accessories. A little gift would go a long way for these children during the holidays.
• Faye is a participant in an outpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting moms. She is asking for help this holiday for her family of four. She has three children — two boys and a girl. The boys are 7 and 5 years old and are growing fast and could really use some new clothing and footwear. Her 1-year-old daughter could also use clothing and toys. She is a single mom and doesn’t have any financial assistance so she lives with her parents who are already providing a lot for her and her children. She would like to get something for her children this holiday.
• Juju is a participant in an outpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting moms. She has a family of four which includes two boys, ages 15 and 3 months. They would like clothing, toys and an iPad. Her family needs a new bed and the 15-year-old would like a BMX bike. Their 38-year-old father lives with them and could use some new clothing.
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.
