Organization announces changes to annual poinsettia sale
The annual Kona Business and Professional Women’s (Kona BPW) Poinsettia Sale usually held at Hale Halawai in early December has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, Kona BPW is offering delivery of plants for orders of at least $100. Colors available are red, pink, jingle bell, marble and yellow (white) and come in 6-, 8- and 10-inch pots.
For more information and order forms, contact Carol Kirihara at (808) 895-0800 or Muriel Boot at (808) 987-8412 or email to muriel.boot@gmail.com. The deadline for orders is Nov. 19 with deliveries scheduled for Nov. 27 and 28.
The Kona BPW organization was chartered on March 15, 1958. Among its charter members are Alfreida Fujita, Thelma Ushiroda and Betty Matsuo. They were instrumental in the building of Hale Halawai, the planting of bougainvilleas along Queen Kaahumanu Highway, and the current Life Care Center of Kona. Through its fundraising efforts at the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival and the annual poinsettia sale, scholarships and grants are awarded not only to West Hawaii high school students, but also to women who are returning to the work force or who wish to further their education in order to increase their salaries and skills for career advancement.
For more information on the Kona BPW, call Cathy Shea, president, at (425) 269-2437.
Full Calabash Fund launches to aid families, food producers
The Kohala Center on Tuesday announced the launch of the Full Calabash Fund, a statewide effort to support vulnerable families and food producers most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Established with support from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Full Calabash Fund will provide grants to Hawaii’s community-based organizations that provide food procured from local farmers, ranchers, and food producers to community members in need.
The fund is administered by The Kohala Center, an independent, community-based nonprofit organization established in 2000 and based on Hawaii Island.
Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations and meal preparation services with deep connection to place and their community, and demonstrated experience working with food-insecure communities in Hawaii and regional partners to source, prepare, and distribute food. Grantees must dedicate at least half of awarded funds to purchase agricultural products from Hawaii-based farmers, ranchers, and food producers. A portion of funds can be used to support general operating expenses and indirect costs.
Applications are available online at koha.la/calabash or by calling The Kohala Center at (808) 887-6411. The deadline to apply 5 p.m. Dec. 8
Donations to the Full Calabash Fund will be accepted through Dec. 31. For more information, to download an application, or to make a donation, visit www.koha.la/calabash or contact Nicole Milne by emailing nmilne@kohalacenter.org or calling (808) 887-6411.
Submissions sought for virtual Christmas parade sought
The inaugural Big Island Virtual Christmas Light Parade is looking for participants.
The virtual parade is an effort to raise funds for the Big Island Giving Tree, which typically benefits from the annual Waimea Twilight Parade that was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants are asked to submit a 20-second video of their home interior or exterior, business or vehicle decked out in holiday decor. The video clips will then be edited and compiled into one video featuring background holiday music from a Hawaii Island recording artist.
The deadline for submission is Dec. 10. The virtual parade will then be posted to social media on Dec. 20.
For more information, send an email to BIVCLP@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page “Big Island Virtual Christmas Light Parade” or “Big Island Virtual Christmas” on Instagram.