KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena Elementary School fourth-grader Waioleka Campbell knew exactly which bag she wanted when she saw it among the wide selection displayed at her school Wednesday.
“I like it,” she said of her new backpack, specifically noting the bag’s style and design.
Sitting next to her, Conan Paahana, also in the fourth grade, held his new Starter-brand bag, noting its fine netting and design.
The students were among more than two dozen at the school to receive a new backpack as part of a drive organized by the Hawaii Police Department.
“It’s a much-needed item for school,” said Community Policing Officer Robin Crusat, who came to the school to help distribute the bags. A June 2018 press release from the department identified backpacks as “the most requested nonfood item for charities in Hawaii.”
The backpack drive collects schoolbags from the community that can be distributed to students in need at schools or low-income housing.
Konawaena Middle School Resource Officer Michael Abran said the department was able to collect more than 100 backpacks from the community to support kids.
The kids who benefited from the backpack drive said they appreciated the officers’ efforts.
Campbell said it was nice that the police officers are helping kids.
“It’s important,” she said, “because if parents don’t have the money to buy something like this, they can get it.”
Paahana, too, said he liked seeing the officers give away the bags.
“If kids don’t have backpacks, they can’t carry their stuff,” he said.
Trish Champagne, principal of Konawaena Elementary School, said she’s excited about their partnership with the police department to provide backpacks to some of the school’s students.
“For the kids that we’ve identified as who are getting the backpacks … it’s like a Christmas present for them,” she said.
She added that they also had some school supplies that had been donated, which were also included in the bags. Ultimately, it’s about recognizing that the kids are the future of this community.
“And we want to make sure we give them what they need, and our community members recognize that there’s a need,” she said. “And so we’re going to do what we’ve got to do as a community to make sure the kids are successful.”
Abran said he hopes efforts like this can help kids recognize police officers as “someone to help,” a point Champagne said she hopes kids also take away from Wednesday’s activity.
“It helps the kids to see that the police are not there for bad people. They’re there for all people,” Champagne said. “And it kind of sends a message that if you need them, they’re there to help.”