It's been a rough year for Jose and Donyal Galariada.

A thyroid problem left Donyal bedridden for months. Jose took leave from work to care for her and their six children. At one point, their cash was so low they had to choose between water and electricity at their Makaha home.

They decided to forgo power. "Believe me, water is harder to live without," Donyal said.

On Dec. 9, with Jose needing a car to get to work, the family went to a Waipahu used-car lot, hoping to get a loan.

The sales representatives told the couple that they didn't qualify for a car loan because of a weak credit history and lack of a down payment.

With the rejection weighing on them, the Galariadas loaded their six young children into the back of a pickup truck Jose borrowed from his cousin. They placed a plywood board over the truck bed to protect the kids from the rain.

A manager at the lot watched the sad scene and decided to do something about it. The manager stopped the Galariadas and told them to wait.

He and the other managers found a 1994 Ford Crown Victoria with 50,000 miles that they decided to give to the family.

"It really seemed like the right thing to do at the time," said Bob Belbas, sales manager at Pflueger Auto Value Center. "It gives you a good feeling."

Nalani Grace, who befriended the family several years ago through her community work in the Leeward area, said they are deserving of the gift.

Grace, a second-year medical student at the University of Hawai'i, said the Galariadas are hardworking despite the financial turmoil in their life.

"They are very encouraging and very inspiring," she said. "What's amazing about this family is their hope that things will lighten up."

TO BE SURE, TIMES HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR THE FAMILY

In September, Jose, 31, lost his job as a groundskeeper at the city's Ala Wai golf course. Bills continued to pile up, and Jose took part-time work, but that was never enough to make ends meet.

When they decided to go without electricity, they cooked their meals on a propane stove and took cold showers. The children went to Jose's father's house nearby for warm baths.

"We were stuck in a hole," Jose said. "We were really, really down on our luck."

Donyal said the dealership's act of kindness helped "put her family back on its feet."

She said her husband was hired recently as a groundsman for an engineering and network development firm, Henkels & McCoy, where he lays fiber-optic cables.

Donyal said the car allows her to drive her husband to his job and shuttle her six children to and from the three schools they attend.

"This was the best Christmas I could ever have in my life because I've never gotten anything this great," Donyal said.

"We're going (to) end up keeping this car for a very long time. There's no way I'm ever going to trade it in because it has special meaning for us."

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND

Tim & Christine Ouchi Fichtner $500

Bernadette Hamel $500

Miya & Kwaj Friends $400

Jill & Thomas Beaupre in memory of Grandma Lucy & Grandpa Antonio $300

Family of Jitsuji & Mutsu Nakagawa $300

NMS DISA-PAC Team $260

S.S. & E.S. Murakami $200

Haleiwa Post Office Employees $190

Mark, Cathy & Sammy Barnes $100

The Chois in memory of Bang Hee Kim, In Sook

Choi & Evelyn Fukunaga $100

David Finger $100

Betty & Randall Hagio $100

Happy Birthday Jesus $100

Steven M. C. Lum $100

Fumio, James H., Laurie, Jaimee & James Y. Maeda in loving memory of Yoriko Maeda $100

Amy Hiratzka Mizuno $100

I. Robert Nehmad $100

Old Republic Kapolei $100

Frances & Robert Tagami $100

Raymond L. Uchytil $100

Jeff & June Watanabe $100

Joanne Chung $50

Julian Davila $50

Deguair Family in loving memory of Alvin Chun $50

Hiromo & Elizabeth Kawasaki $50

Mahalo to Lisa, Best Letter Carrier $50

Raoul & Yoko Menard $50

Amber O'Reilly $50

Robert Reckendorf $50

Henry Sim in loving memory of Robert & Jane Shinke $50

Joel L. Ustare $50

Herman & Maile Ventura $50

Yvonne Lennon $35

Elizabeth & Charles Helms $30

Sherill Adams $25

George & Elaine Agena $25

Carole & Cynthia Anamizu $25

Magdalena & Bernard Cambia $25

Bruce Ellinwood $25

Yvonne Firing $25

Michael Ito $25

Vanessa & Vania Ito in memory of Vesper Ito $25

Michael Lee $25

Tracy Matsushima $25

Rachel Ramos $25

Kenneth & Eulalia Salima $25

David & Mary Shinn $25

James Sturdevant & Cynthia

Sturdevant-Pattianakotta $25

Andra & Gerard Vincent $25

Jo-Anne & Eugene Yamada $25

David Hirao $20

William Vandoorne $20

Anonymous $500

Anonymous in memory of Evelyn & Kenneth Chun $200

Anonymous $100

Anonymous $100

Anonymous $70

Anonymous $50

Anonymous $50

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Anonymous $50

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Anonymous $25

Anonymous $25

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Anonymous $25

Total $6,325

Previous total $182,725.66

Total to date $189,050.66

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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