Kupuna, perhaps our most treasured residents, could use a little extra attention this Christmas. Their needs may be great, but their requests are often quite modest.
For instance, Lilian loves gardening and spending time on her orchids. She would love some help to buy plant food and soil.
Cristina would love to be able to take her friend to McDonald’s to share a burger or fish sandwich and spend time watching people prepare for the holidays.
Natalie could use a new microwave for her apartment unit.
Nicholas likes to spend time with his son and he hopes they can go to a movie together.
And Lauren is an artist. She enjoying painting pictures of the flowers she grows. She could use some extra brushes and canvases, and wouldn’t mind a few new plants!
The Garden Island shares daily through Christmas Eve about real people (we don’t use their real names) facing challenges who would appreciate a little help through The Garden Island/Zonta Christmas Fund.
In the past two years, the fund has raised more than $50,000, and every dollar has gone toward bringing joy to those who otherwise would likely go without anything on Christmas.
This program has been around since the 1980s and is headed up by Dimples Kano, 93, who has led it for nearly two decades and refuses to retire because she loves the happiness it brings to others.
This year, about 400 families applied for help through the fund.
Donations to the Christmas Fund are used by Zonta Club members to purchase local gift certificates that are in turn distributed via social service agencies to families in December.
People have been generous in their contributions so far this year.
Checks, payable to Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, can be mailed to P.O. Box 3032, Lihue, HI 96766. For further information, call Kano at 822-4517.
