Giving with Pride

Myself and my boys would be the recipients. It has been a really tough year for us. We have been battling for over a year a parasitic infection in my youngest son, 3 years old. It has taken a toll on all of us. Luckily we just recently got some good news that it looks like the injection treatments into his eye has stopped the spread and lessened the inflammation. With monitoring, glasses, and eye patching we are hoping it won't get worse. I was involved with non-profit for LGBTQ+ Pride for the last 4 years, other roles prior to that, and just stepped down from my role due to personal stresses and a strong belief in the others on the team to grow as leaders as well. My husband, a Transgender Man, and I have started to go our separate ways after 15 years. It has been a tough transition on us emotionally and even physically. I am hopeful though as I just got a position with the county as a city council aide. However, losing the income of my husband has been challenging. I just want to make sure I can provide for my boys. My oldest is an awesome brother and has really stepped up. He is 11 years old and is doing great in school even with all of our recent changes. I don't know if my story is spectacular. But, I work hard, volunteer in my extra time, advocate so hard for the LGBTQ+ Community here, I am a mom, and a recent graduate from UH Hilo with my B.A in Gender and Women's Studies with a minor in Philosophy. I couldn't be more proud that I did it and my goal is to keep serving the LGBTQ+ Community in any way I can.

Things, Items, Assistance Recipient Could Use
Money or help with bills so I can get ahead and not worry, toys for my kids, help with the cost of adopting my oldest son (my husband birthed him-pretransition- and gay marriage wasn't legal when he was born so the hospital in NV wouldn't allow us to put me on his birth certificate at the time), a vacation would be a dream too. A long term goal would be to have a down payment to buy my little House I’m currently in. 

X Is my biological sister, I watched her from from a punky little boy to a blossoming women who is still learning to grow to the vibrant lily she is meant to be.
She always thinks about others before she thinks of herself. As her big brother I’m always scolding her about her giving her last dollar away to someone knowingly she knows she needed it more but she rather help that person first. She loves to cook she always coming to my house to make food for me and my roommate when I know she needs to save her money but she don’t listen to me cause no sibling likes to listen to their older siblings lmao. For this holiday due to my own financial struggles I can’t get her a gift but would like to nominate her for this competition cause it definitely would brighten up her holiday and i love her with all my heart.

Things, Items, Assistance Recipient Could Use
She definitely needs a shopping spree for make up and clothes and shoes (she stole my slippers ugh)
Food cause she loves to cook and gas money cause she be traveling to work everyday from on side of island to another.
But I would definitely love if anyone had any way to give her that nudge to the right way for her to start on the correct way to transitioning like the best doctors and places that will help her with the right medication for her transitioning. I don’t know that part of the community and can only suggest the local lgbtq but like I said she doesn’t like listening to me cause I guess I come off as scolding instead of suggesting.

In addition to dealing with Covid like everyone else & a pre-Covid period of unemployment, he has also been the primary caregiver for his dad. This has included independently managing medical care, hospital stays, arranging aftercare, putting legal matters in order, paying off as many of the bills as possible, as well as paying the mortgage & many other related expenses. He oversees his dad's treatment & living arrangements & makes himself available for any situation that may come up. Fortunately he gained steady employment however the expenses for his dad in addition to his own life's expenses (rent, food, transportation) far outweighs his income & has affected his savings. 

Things, Items, Assistance Recipient Could Use
•Gift cards to various stores (i.e., Walmart, Safeway, etc.), •Gift cards to eateries
•Money for storage fees, personal care, Uber, bus, etc.

We love this community and are proud to donate our time with our local pride and support our youth, as well as our LGBTQ+ identifying child.  
My wife and I have two kids that deserve the world. They've grown up a lot over the last year and a half, and have taken all of the changes that Covid has brought us in stride. I work full-time, but we are a single income family because of my wife's medical limitations. We don't have much and are typically happy to make it work with what we have. I coupon, shop sales, budget, and love to cook and repurpose, but it's been hard. I make enough to keep our heads above water, but not enough to qualify for public assistance. I desperately need to repair the front end of our car to keep it safe for us. We were quoted $2,900 but I've been able to buy almost all of the parts one by one. I'm just struggling to purchase the last part and bolts, and the cost of labor.

With aloha and appreciation

Things, Items, Assistance Recipient Could Use
KTA, Safeway or Target gift cards to purchase groceries to help me save, or assistance with our car repair. Any gift would directly benefit my kids and we’re committed to paying it forward as soon as we’re able.