emiller@westhawaiitoday.com BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY ADVERTISING For kids, waiting to open gifts under the Christmas tree can be tough. But for some Hawaii Island donors, even waiting to give presents can be difficult, especially when the recipients
BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY
For kids, waiting to open gifts under the Christmas tree can be tough.
But for some Hawaii Island donors, even waiting to give presents can be difficult, especially when the recipients are in need.
Such was the case for one of the Big Island residents who signed up to donate gifts to a Family Support Hawaii program participant in need of a stroller, program board member Gabriella Cooper said.
“The mom had to carry the child to the school to pick up the older child,” Cooper said, adding it was a long walk from home to school. “One lady said, she needs the stroller now. This was the beginning of November.”
Thanks to the generosity of Big Island residents and businesses, 80 families with 156 children saw Christmas presents under the tree, as well as a grocery store gift certificate, as part of the Kalikimaka No Na Keiki. Cooper said more people contacted her to adopt families than she had available. She said she asked those potential donors if they would be willing to give cash, which some did, helping to cover the cost of the gift certificates.
One family got bunk beds. The two children who will use the beds were previously sleeping on the floor, Cooper said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much love from others towards us,” one parent wrote in a thank you note sent back to the Family Support Hawaii office.
“I was so speechless to see the love and generosity you gave us,” another wrote, adding her daughter was thankful for the gifts. “She will surely enjoy and cherish each one.”
Family Support Hawaii selected recipients from people who already participate in the organization’s programs, which include the Fatherhood Initiative, Malama Perinatal Services, a Healthy Start program, a child development program in Ka’u and the Kealakehe Infant and Toddler Center.
Cooper said the organization set strict rules for who could qualify for gifts, because they were concerned about having too many families to help.
The initial criteria, she said, was “barring our presents, the children were not going to have a Christmas. People were so giving, we kind of loosened up and went to the next stage.”
Donors’ generosity also allowed the organization to consider more than just presents the children needed, shoes, for instance, and also get presents the children wanted. Video games topped the wish lists, Cooper said, although parents also requested many educational items, including books and learning games.
Businesses that donated included Target, Macy’s, Big Island Honda, Kona Community Hospital and Kona Mountain Coffee. Recipients lived all over the island, Cooper said.
Last year, Cooper started recruiting donors in August. This year, she’s ready to add potential donors to a list now, she said. People interested in donating may contact her at kamana001@hawaii.rr.com.
emiller@westhawaiitoday.com
