The homeless could use help this holiday season through The Garden Island/Zonta Christmas Fund.
Keoki lives on limited income and food stamps, is homeless, suffers from anxiety and has a hard time staying at the shelter because he prefers to be alone.
He does like to go to the mall and use the free Wi-Fi at the coffee shop. He also enjoys going for walks on the beach to clear his head.
Keoki’s phone was stolen, so his only source of communication is through his email. He would really use a new cellphone.
Coco had been homeless for three years before finally getting into low-income housing. He is disabled and has little money. Coco is in desperate need of furnishings for his new apartment and could use new clothes that fit him, as he hasn’t been able to afford to buy any in some time and his clothes are usually too big or too small.
Through Christmas Eve, The Garden Island will share daily stories about people like these (we don’t use their real names) facing challenges and who would appreciate a little help through The Garden Island/Zonta Christmas Fund.
About 400 families, through different social service agencies, filled out applications seeking assistance from The Garden Island/Zonta Christmas Fund during the holidays. They count on this fund, which was established in the early 1980s.
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 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.
That’s where you come in.
Donations to the Christmas Fund are used by Zonta Club members to purchase local gift certificates that are in turn distributed to families in December. Each donated dollar is accounted for and carefully recorded. There are no administrators collecting salaries. The money goes directly to provide gift certificates to those who need them.
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 their picture presenting the check published in TGI.
Checks, payable to Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, can be mailed to P.O. Box 3032, Lihue, HI 96766. For further information, call Dimples Kano at 822-4517.
