F amily Support Hawaii is looking for individuals, groups or businesses to “adopt” five remaining families to ensure Big Island keiki have a special Christmas morning.
Of the 107 families comprising 270 children identified for the nonprofit organization’s annual “Kalikimaka No Na Keiki” program, 102 families have been “adopted” by the community, said Gabriella Cooper, Family Support Hawaii Board of Directors vice president and coordinator for the Christmas program. That leaves five families remaining, she said, noting that one of the families includes a pregnant teen who is due to give birth in January and needs “everything that has to do with a baby.”
“It means the difference between no Christmas and having a Christmas for the kids,” Cooper said about the program’s impact on participants who are vetted by Family Support Hawaii through its programs. “For the parents, it’s being able to look at their children and know that they are happy.
For those taking the step to make Christmas happen for families in our community needing a little extra help, she added: “It’s a warm feeling on Christmas day to know there is a child or a family grinning from ear-to-ear that day because of you.”
“Kalikimaka No Na Keiki” began about five years ago as a means to ensure those struggling to make ends meet can provide a good Christmas for their children, Cooper said. The program helps bring Christmas to an estimated 270 to 300 children, nearing birth to age 18, annually. In 2012, there were 298 children in the holiday program.
“Quite often, especially in bad economic times, moms and dads find themselves in a situation where they must choose between giving kids gifts at Christmas time or buying food,” Cooper said, noting that many parents list food and necessities, like diapers and even a blanket, as items they need for Christmas rather than toys. “And, children don’t understand that.”
Over the years, she said the community has been “absolutely unbelievably giving” with many entities returning year-after-year to adopt families.
“Adopting” and bringing Christmas morning cheer to a local family is easy, Cooper said. People only have to spend or fulfill what wishes they can, she added, noting that an average $75 to $100 is spent per child.
Families identified for adoption must have at least one child enrolled in a Family Support Hawaii program. Each family then works with an FSH staff member to list the first names, ages and sizes of children in the household. The family then identifies two things they need for each child as well as the kid’s wishes.
The adopting party receives that information and then serves as a “Secret Santa,” she said. “Secret Santas” can either schedule a pickup or deliver the goodies to the office either wrapped or unwrapped. An FSH staff member to ensure privacy laws are followed must deliver the gifts.
Monetary donations are also being accepted for the purchase of KTA Superstores gift certificates that will be divvied up among the families, Cooper said.
Contact Cooper at 328-9696 or kamana001@hawaii.rr.com for more information on the program.
For information on services provided by 501(c)(3) Family Support Hawaii, call 326-7778.
