Mike and Laurie enjoy taking their three kids — Taylor, Jamie and Sam — to the beach to spend quality time with them.
Laurie is a stay-at-home mom while Mike works part-time as a driver and part-time as a busser. They live in a small studio, and most of their income goes to rent and utilities. One day, they’d like a real house with bedrooms for the kids.
“When I asked about Christmas they lit up,” a caseworker said. “Mike said the kids really need blankets and sheets. But Laurie insists they need shoes and slippers. When I asked the kids what they want, Sam said a bike, Jamie would like Barbies and Taylor would like hair accessories and makeup.”
Through Christmas Eve, The Garden Island is sharing daily, front-page stories about families and individuals (we don’t use their real names) facing challenges and who would appreciate a little help.
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.
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 $150 or more can have their picture published in TGI.
Donations may be made by way of the website Zonta-Kauai.org, or checks can be made payable to The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 3032, Lihu‘e, HI 96766.
• Anna is a 49-year old mother of 13-year-old Ella. Anna was homeless for four years and is now housed through the assistance of a permanent-supportive-housing program. Anna lives with mental-health issues and is now sober and clean. She receives a fixed income and continually works on being sustainable for herself and her daughter. For this season of wonder, a gift of clothing for Anna and Ella would bring great joy and sparkle.
• Kaliko, 7, and 6-year-old sister Kailea, are two young children who have experienced many hardships in their short lives. State Child Welfare Services intervened as their biological parents are addicted to substances, engage in other illegal activity and crime, including abuse and neglect of their children. Both Kaliko and Kailea experience developmental delays due to exposure to substance abuse while their mother was pregnant. They are currently being cared for by their aunt and uncle, who are doing everything they can to support the children in their healing. The children are bright and kind, and are working hard to make sense of the unfortunate events they experienced at such young ages.
