E.A. works two jobs, seven days a week, to support her four daughters and her elderly father.

A secretary in two offices, she struggles to pay rent on her Waimanalo home. The family has learned to depend on each other.

E.A. worries that the food she can afford is not healthy enough. And her girls share clothes.

She is not asking for anything for herself for Christmas, but hopes that through the generosity of others she will be able to give her daughters new clothes. They are teased at school because of their clothes.

The family doesn't have enough beds and takes turns sleeping on the floor. E.A. said her daughters are often "tired from not having something comfortable to sleep on."

E.A.'s 14-year-old and 11-year-old daughters would each like a CD player for Christmas and her 8-year-old and 3-year-old would each like a doll or stuffed animal.

The family's caseworker said they could use new bath towels since they don't have enough and the ones they do have are tattered. They could also use a shower curtain.

Christmas Fund donations will be used for families who need help making it through the holidays. Any money remaining after the holidays will be used to help those in need through the year.

New clothes would spare girls from being teased

HOW TO DONATE

Send checks payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Checks also may be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.

Material goods may be taken to the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For details, call 440-3804.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.