The Garden Island
Two adults are facing challenges this holiday season and are counting on the community for some help.
Bella is a spunky woman filled with energy, who has a beautiful singing voice. She also loves to wear new clothes and jewelry or paint her nails to feel pretty.
But her limited income gives her just enough to pay for expenses and her family, who also work to care for their children. She would love to go shopping for something new this Christmas.
Her family takes good care of her physical needs. She isn’t as mobile as before and frequent trips to the doctor and therapy sometimes put a strain on the family. Bella also has very mild dementia which adds to the demand for 24-hour care.
Aiden has have been divorced for many years and lost three children all because of his drug addiction. He couldn’t hold a job, was homeless and didn’t want anyone’s help.
“I finally realized that I needed help,” Aiden said. “I was put in contact with a great organization that has helped me with a place to live and has given me tools and resources to stay clean. I am currently looking for a job and have slowly begun to see my children again.”
He would love the opportunity to give his keiki what they need this holiday season.
“I am working on being in their lives full-time again and being a good example to them,” he said. “I would love to be able to purchase shoes, clothes and school supplies.”
They are two of the many who will receive help from The Garden Island/Zonta Christmas Fund, which is supported by the community.
Donations to the Christmas Fund will be distributed by Zonta Club members, who purchase gift certificates at local stores to make wishes come true.
New this year, the Hale Uluwehi Kauai Fund announced that it will provide a dollar-for-dollar match for donations of $100 or greater. It will match the total up to $5,000 and, if there’s great success, will consider adjusting that figure higher.
Here’s how the program works:
Families apply for assistance through social service agencies, which in turn connect with the Zonta Club of Kauai. It uses donations to buy gift certificates for those in need. The certificates can be used for gifts and groceries.
Each donated dollar is accounted for and carefully recorded. Rest assured, the money is spent wisely.
There are no administrators collecting salaries. There are no hidden costs.
If you hold a fundraiser for the Christmas Fund, let us know and we’ll spread the word. Anyone making a donation of $50 or more may have his or her picture presenting the check published in TGI.
The Garden Island/Zonta Christmas Fund was established in the early 1980s when Jean Holmes was editor of TGI.
Only monetary donations are accepted. Checks, payable to Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, can be mailed to P.O. Box 3032, Lihue, HI 96766. For more information, call 822-4517.
