Jack is an elderly and disabled person who lives in low-income housing. His health has been deteriorating over the past year so his apartment has become cluttered and it’s hard for him to do housework. It would be nice if we can get him a helper to clean his house so he can welcome a new year.

Eve and Steve are mother and son who both receive Meals on Wheels. Eve, as elderly as she is, has to take care of her also-elderly son who has problems moving around. He can’t stay up long or walk for a period of time. Steve has medical problems and constantly needs her care. He had a stroke that has affected his walking. Eve has to take care of the housework as well as her son. It would be nice for her to receive some help in getting the house cleaned up for the holidays. A basket of healthy snacks for the son would cheer him up for the holidays, too.

The Garden Island shares daily stories through Christmas Eve about real people (we don’t use their real names) facing challenges and who would appreciate a little help through The Garden Island/Zonta Christmas Fund.

In the past two years, the fund has raised more than $50,000, and every dollar has gone toward bringing joy to those who otherwise would likely go without anything on Christmas.

This program has been around since the 1980s and is headed up by Dimples Kano, 93, who has led it for nearly two decades and refuses to retire because she loves the happiness it brings to others.

This year, about 400 families applied for assistance.

Donations to the Christmas Fund are used by Zonta Club members to purchase local gift certificates that are in turn distributed via social service agencies to families in December.

Anyone who donates $50 or more is welcome to have their picture in TGI. Please swing by our Lihue office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. If you know of any fundraiser for the Christmas Fund, let us know and we’ll spread the word.

Checks, payable to Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, can be mailed to P.O. Box 3032, Lihue, HI 96766. For more information, call Kano at 822-4517.