Genesis Toralba believes that if she hadn’t left her boyfriend a year ago, she’d be dead now, leaving her three young boys without a mother.

Escaping the abusive relationship almost cost her two sons, whom she initially had to leave behind. She cried herself to sleep every night until she got them back, and now they are together in a transitional shelter, Weinberg Village Waimanalo, Toralba said.

But the 25-year-old had to give up her job to take care of her boys, and is overwhelmed with the fear and frustration of not being able to provide for them, especially at Christmas, she said. They won’t understand why Santa hasn’t brought them any presents, Toralba added.

The Star-Advertiser’s annual Good Neighbor Fund is working with Helping Hands Hawaii to give families like Toralba’s a boost during the holidays through the Adopt-A-Family program. The public can donate material goods or cash that will be distributed in time for Christmas, and to help the needy throughout the year.

While living on the Big Island, Toralba had tried leaving the abusive relationship many times during the last several years. But she would always go back, hoping her love could make her boyfriend change. She tried to make things work because she didn’t want her sons growing up without their father, she said.

The turning point came when "he almost killed me," and she fled to a women’s domestic violence shelter.

A relative paid for her flight to Oahu in June to live with her father.

"I only could bring one child," the youngest, Elijah, who is now 2 years old. The other two — Daniel, 6, and Moses, 4 — stayed with her boyfriend’s relatives until she could send for them.

Shortly after, Toralba had to leave her father’s house because a neighbor complained about the baby’s crying. She stayed at the Institute for Human Services for several months, saving up for her move into the Weinberg Village in March.

"I would cry myself to sleep because my family was broken and at IHS, most everyone had their families complete. … I can still remember the days and nights of waking up and looking around without my family. … It was heartbreaking," she said.

On the verge of falling apart, she finally went to the state Child Protective Services agency to get her boys back from her boyfriends’ relatives, who had refused to return them. Last November, Daniel was returned to her, and in April she got Moses. Those were joyous, beautiful days, Toralba said.

Her advice to other abused women is, "Don’t wait till it’s too late. I told my friend, after her boyfriend pushed her across the room, from there, it only gets worse and worse. You may love him, but they won’t change until they get help."

Toralba is taking a high school equivalency test at the end of the month, and hopes one day to have a career as a police forensic investigator.

She hated giving give up a full-time job as a salesperson in April, but "I could not afford child care and my children needed me most. … I then went into a depression because I didn’t know how I’d be able to pay for rent, buy what my children need, so I prayed. The state is taking care of me right now. I don’t like being on it (welfare) but I have no choice.

"It’s frustrating, but I try to focus and appreciate that we are safe, have a roof over our head, and food to eat, but most of all we have love."

For Christmas, Daniel wants a Game Boy video game or a skateboard; Moses, a bike or drawing supplies; and Elijah, a tricycle.