Debra Saveena drives a forklift full time during the day, then goes home to take care of four children, one of them a 9-year-old still in diapers.

By being a steady breadwinner and managing money wisely, Saveena was able to move her family out of a shelter in October and into a duplex in Waipahu, under a program that puts rent toward eventual ownership.

"The best gift is us being together as a family," Saveena said. "I know my kids want what the other kids have, but I can’t afford it. I am happy that God has blessed me with kids who are very grateful for whatever they have or receive, and they never ask for very much. This year I want this Christmas to be special, to let them know how grateful I am of them."

To brighten the holidays for families who have little to spare for Christmas celebrations, the Star-Advertiser is beginning its annual Good Neighbor Fund Drive today. All donations will go to the Adopt-A-Family program of Helping Hands Hawaii.

People can "adopt" a family in need, or specify that donated items or cash be used for certain families. Items can be dropped off at Helping Hands Hawaii’s Community Clearinghouse, and cash donations can be made at all First Hawaiian Bank branches.

Scott Morishige, manager of the Adopt-A-Family program, said, "The Good Neighbor Fund doesn’t just purchase gifts for the holidays, but helps families throughout the year. Our office has been receiving 60 to 70 calls a day for financial help with rent or utilities.

"This year, 257 families have requested help, with more families and case managers calling us for help each day. In comparison, last year our program assisted 180 families." In 2008, the number was slightly over 100, he said.

"For Christmas, the most common request this year seems to be help for a holiday meal. It might seem like a simple thing, but a lot of the families have a hard time just being able to put food on the table or to provide clothes for their kids. Many are working, but they’re working part-time jobs or low-paying jobs," Morishige said.

For most of the past two years, Saveena’s family has lived at her mother’s house. It was so crowded she would have to sleep in her car while her kids slept inside. Her husband did not accompany them when they moved from Alaska back to Hawaii. She applied for housing subsidy programs, but was forced to seek emergency shelter last December at the Onemalu Transitional Shelter in Kapolei.

"I was nervous and really scared; I was worried about my kids," she said, thinking the shelter would be full of people on drugs or involved in crime. "But when I got in I had a totally different perspective. They really helped me out and didn’t look down on me and my kids. People really cared and wanted to help.

"I was really shocked and happy. I thought my situation was the worst, but I saw others in worse situations than mine."

Her 9-year-old daughter, Candace, was born with heart ailments and has developmental problems. Meeting her special needs and keeping her happy is "like (caring for) 10 kids in one," but everybody loves her, Saveena said. Buying diapers for her and for her 2-year-old son "run me broke," she said.

Though juggling a full-time job and raising a family is exhausting, she said, "No matter how tired I am, I’m never giving up on my kids. I help them with homework and try to spend time with one kid at a time. My two oldest girls, 13 and 11, help me out a lot. My oldest daughter is my right hand and she helps me with Candace."

She said when she apologizes for not being able to afford anything more than the most modest toys, they say, "’Mom, don’t worry about it.’"

"I am so blessed by my kids," Saveena said. "They are glad to receive whatever they have." She wishes she could give them "their very own Christmas tree, even if it does not have any gifts under it."