Mother of 2 hopes to create stable home
KAT WADE / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Lisa Wong, center, poses with her two daughters, Puaranui Worthington, 9, left, and Lindsey Wong, 2, in their Palolo home.
Lisa Wong’s main goal is to provide stability for her daughters and create a strong sense of home for them.
Wong left an abusive relationship last December and has been struggling with her finances and the demands of being a single parent. She’s moved three times in the past year but has finally found a place to put down some roots.
But Wong is still trying to get the things that she and her daughters need.
“I just want the girls to feel settled. We had been sleeping on the floor, but I finally got the kids’ beds. I’m saving for my own bed now,” she said. “Sometimes I hit walls, but I’m still finding solutions.”
Wong, who is still waiting for her divorce to be finalized, has found help throughout her ordeal from the Domestic Violence Action Center.
More than 800 families will be served this year by the Good Neighbor Fund. To donate to the Wong family in particular, use Family Code: DVAC 05.
>> At the bank: Donations will be accepted at all First Hawaiian Bank locations through Dec. 31.
>> Online: Go to HelpingHandsHawaii.org and click on the “Donate now” button to make a gift via PayPal. Specify “Good Neighbor Fund.”
>> By mail: Make your check payable to “Good Neighbor Fund” and mail it to Helping Hands Hawaii, Attention: Good Neighbor Fund, 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI 96819.
>> Donations of goods: Drop off at the address above.
>> Call: 440-3800
“I was in an abusive, unhealthy and dysfunctional marriage. … I’m trying to gain my confidence back,” she said. “I lost a lot of me in the marriage. I felt like I lost everything.”
Wong was a stay-at-home mom for about six years. She has a college degree and is a former flight attendant but has been having a difficult time finding a job.
“I’ve updated my resume and have been seeking employment for over a year, but I still receive numerous rejection letters,” she said. “I haven’t worked in a long time, so that’s probably why.”
Wong, originally from Hilo, says she is accustomed to humble living so she’s trying to furnish her home with just the basics. She received a couch and dining table, so the family no longer needs to eat while sitting on the floor. “It’s starting to feel like home.”
She creates vision boards with her older daughter, posting images and affirmations on a poster board to help them envision their goals, and is looking toward a positive future as she leaves her painful past behind.
“It feels good to start new,” Wong said. “I’m trying my best to have faith, be patient and be strong through these trying times.”
CHILDREN
Puaranui, 9, and Lindsey, 2
WISH LIST
For herself: Queen-size bedsheets, plates and bowls, coffee mugs, a small saucepan
For Puaranui: Shoes (children’s size 4), clothes (10-12), a kid’s working sewing machine
For Lindsey: Shoes (toddler size 7-8), clothes (2T)
LOOKING FORWARD
Wong hopes to find a job that allows her to make a living and still spend quality time with her children, as she works on rebuilding herself along with a life for her girls.
