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.
• Candice is a young woman who is disabled and whose husband, Eric, is her full-time caregiver because she needs so much care. They have been houseless for sometime and have been living out of their van. They recently found housing within their budget but this leaves little for anything extra. This year to help make their house a home they could use some curtains, bus passes and kitchen utensils.
• Emily is a single mother to two children ages 8 and 6. Due to their ages and lack of support, she can only work limited hours and days. She was not able to afford rent and found herself couch surfing with family and friends. Finally she saved enough funds to rent a home, but is still on a single limited income. To make her home comfortable for her children, she is asking for board games and books for them. Laundry and kitchen supplies or anything to make their home comfortable would be appreciated.
• Heather is a single mom of three children (Koa, 11; Lani, 4; and Kainoa, 2). They were homeless and living in their vehicle for the last three years since the rents have sky-rocketed after COVID. Although working full-time and having friends helping with child care, she still has a hard time finding an affordable home to rent until recently when she secured a small home for her and her children. This year she would like to be able to make sure her children have a happy holiday season. She is asking for board games for thee kids, art supplies, dolls and Play-Doh, toy cars and trucks or even just bubbles. Heather would be grateful for anything to see her kids happy.
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.
Source: The Garden Island
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