Necessities on disabled mom's wish list
POSTED: Monday, December 22, 2008
A place to live is the first thing on Tercy Franciz's wish list. The second is food.
PARTY FOR CHARITYA fundraiser for the nonprofit group Helping Hands Hawaii, which operates the Community Clearinghouse and other charitable programs, will be held at Ocean's 808 nightclub at Restaurant Row Christmas Day. The event, called “;The Gift,”; is being sponsored by Rick Rock (of Rick Rock Productions) and about a dozen local night club promoters from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Hot 93.9 radio station is lending several deejays, and Ocean's is donating more than 20 percent of its bar sales that night to the fundraiser. A $10 donation at the door can be made.
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“;I need house,”; said the widowed Micronesian immigrant, who considers the basic necessities of life to be the best Christmas presents.
Weakened by a stroke two years ago, Franciz can no longer work as a hotel housekeeper. Her daughter took over her job, but was laid off with the drop in tourism.
Both live at the Onemalu Transitional Shelter with two other family members, but time is running out for them because residents are allowed to stay only for two years at minimal rent while they are trained for independence.
Families steeped in poverty need a spark of hope, particularly at Christmas, when the rest of the world seems to be celebrating, says Danmerle Capati, a case manager for six years at the shelter. When they are “;adopted”; by someone in the Community Clearinghouse's Adopt-A-Family program, “;it's a very thankful time for them,”; Capati said. The Star-Bulletin's Good Neighbor Fund helps the program collect funds and donated items for these families.
“;It's so uplifting for the family. The children love the gifts. Everybody at their school is talking about the season and gifts, and their family may not have the resources to buy them,”; she said.
Franciz, now 51, and her husband moved from Chuuk to Hawaii six years ago to obtain medical treatment for his heart disease. They were a self-sufficient, working family until 2005, when she was hit by a stroke. The following year, her husband died. Franciz doesn't qualify for federal disability assistance because she has worked in the country for less than five years.
“;I don't feel happy. My husband passed away, and I want to be back to normal,”; said Franciz, who wears a leg brace. “;I'm trying to get rid of my wheelchair, walker and cane. I really want to try to walk by myself.”;
Franciz is frustrated that the right side of her body is disabled, adding: “;I need someone to take care of me. I need help washing clothes, clean my room, wash my dishes, cook food.”;
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