Last Christmas Faliu Allen and her young family were in a tent at Waimanalo Beach Park. She and her boyfriend used what little money they had to eat a Christmas meal with their little boy at Jack-in-the-Box.

"It was sad," Allen said.

Allen, 25, is especially excited and grateful this year. It will be the family of three's first Christmas in their own home — a small studio apartment that they moved into several months ago.

"It is a blessing," she said of their temporary housing at Weinberg Village Waimanalo. "When Thanksgiving came I cried. It was so touching, just to see me and my family having a nice dinner in our own home, just to have a roof over our heads. ... A real meal, a hot shower, a warm place to relax."

But even though the family is happy to have a home this Christmas, they're still having a tough time financially. They're finding it difficult just to pay the rent.

Allen stopped working months ago because she had no childcare for her son, Maximus, who is now 3 years old. Her boyfriend earned money by working side jobs in landscaping, but the rainy weather has slowed work. He's been looking for a more stable job to support the family.

"We're having a hard time," she said. "Right now the weather's so bad I don't think he'll even get work this week. He's trying to find a regular job, and everybody's telling him, 'We'll call you in the middle of the month.' We want to get everything (settled) because Christmas is around the corner."

The family did recently get some good news. Allen just got a job as a general clerk at a supermarket, which should help their finances. She said she starts her new job today.

And she's trying to remain hopeful. Allen and her boyfriend participated in parenting and nutrition classes, and Maximus will begin the Head Start program for low-income preschool-age children.

"I'm so thankful that we're here today," she said. "I won't have to worry about being in a tent and getting rained on.

"We want ... the Christmas we've never had before."

Allen learned some new recipes in her nutrition class and would love to cook Christmas dinner and serve it on a table for her family. The family now eats dinner on the carpet. She said a dinette set may not fit in their studio apartment and that she'd appreciate perhaps a coffee table for her family.

The family's wish list also includes silverware, an area rug, bath towels and books for little Maximus.

Allen and her boyfriend would also appreciate any clothes and toys to help make Maximus' Christmas special this year. The 3-year-old boy wears a size 4T.

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND

Brianna Platte $250

Christopher Platte $250

Sara Platte $250

Mark Platte $250

The Andrew Chings $100

Mia Chung $100

Virginia Jordan $100

Judith & Robert Maguire $100

Laura Suehisa Family $50

Raymond & Lorriane Tasaka $50

Walter & Sadie $50

Herbert & Jenora Chang, in loving memory of Kam Hon Chang $25

Herbert & Jenora Chang, in loving memory of Mildred S.Y. Chang $25

Taylor Tajiri & Grandma Tasaka $25

Maris Tasaka & Grandma Tasaka $25

Misha Tasaka & Grandma Tasaka $25

Anonymous, in memory of Henry A. Walker Jr. $300

Anonymous, in memory of Advertiser photographer Carl Viti $100

Anonymous, in memory of Jinkichi & Haruyo Okada $50

Anonymous, in memory of Ichiro & Elsie Okada $50

Anonymous, in memory of Ford Okada $50

Anonymous, in memory of Motonobu Okada $50

Total $ 2,275

Previous total $ 65,703.64

Total to date $ 67,978.64

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.