Page 5 - MidWeek Kauai - Nov 24, 2021

NOVEMBER 24, 2021
KAUA‘I MIDWEEK 5
Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry
20% OFF
Limited Time
14k Gold & Sterling Silver Bangles
• Fully Customized
• Lifetime Enamel Warranty
• Inside Engraving Free
• Choice of Designs
• Unlimited Letters
(808) 246-4653
2976 KRESS ST., LIHUE Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9:30am–2pm CLOSED Thanksgiving Day
Marines Get Ready For A ‘Toy’-ous Season
FROM PAGE 4
ed to do was reach out to as many children that I could, even though I was being restricted by a lot of things. I was quarantined for almost 28 days of the campaign because I was still trav- eling and doing my job for the Marine Corps.
“It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done.”
Like Santa’s elves, Ibarra also has a dedicat- ed team of volunteers in the Toys for Tots shop. Assisting him this year are Sgt. Nathan Stewart and wife Clairece, along with 1st Sgt. Jeremy Bland and wife Christina. The program also re- ceives help from social welfare and community agencies, church groups, businesses and more.
me, and I got a basketball.
“I think these programs (like Toys for Tots)
Volunteers Clairece Stewart and Christina Bland sort through toys by age and gender in preparation for present distribution this Christmas season.
DIRECTOR OF CONTENT/ SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTS RON NAGASAWA
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
BILL MOSSMAN
MANAGING EDITOR
NICOLE MONTON midweekkauai.com
To start/stop delivery
or report a service issue, please call (808) 245-0433.
Telephone for Editorial:
(808) 529-4700
Fax (808) 585-6324 Telephone for Advertising & Administration: (808) 529-4700
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
DENNIS FRANCIS
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
DAVE KENNEDY
REGIONAL SALES MANAGER
LANCE TAKAKI
SALES EXECUTIVES
EDEN RAQUEL
PHONE (808) 212-5423 eraquel@thegardenisland.com
SALLY CRAVENS
PHONE (808) 212-8240 scravens@thegardenisland.com
JENNIE WONG
PHONE (808) 346-8897 jwong@thegardenisland.com
Kaua‘i Midweek is published every Wednesday
by Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd.,
Suite 7-500 Honolulu, HI 96813.
“Clairece is in the warehouse sorting and counting the toys, coordinating the volunteers and getting collection boxes out,” notes Ibarra. “And Christina is helping with a lot of the re- quests for toys.
are very important. These gifts provide a memory for a lifetime. I know it did for me. I believe if we can provide that type of kind- ness to our local children, they will grow to be better people and be able to give back that kindness and ultimately enjoy a great holiday season.”
“A lot of people believe that the military bases or the Marines are the ones who benefit from this, but it’s nationwide and within our local communities. Donations collected here, stay here.”
For more information, email kauai.hi@ toysfortots.org.
Help bring joy to disadvantaged keiki this holiday season. Drop off new, un- wrapped toys at Kaua‘i Veterans Center at 3215 Kāpule Hwy. in Līhu‘e on the dates and times below.
• Fridays (Nov. 26 and Dec. 3) from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
• Saturdays (Nov. 27 and Dec. 4) from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Sundays (Nov. 28 and Dec. 5) from 12:30 to 5 p.m.
Local nonprofits and families experienc- ing hardship can submit a toy request form at kauai-hi.toysfortots.org by Nov. 30 (late requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis). Upon approval, they will then be assigned to a distribution event to pick up their toys.
Toys can also be dropped off at any Kaua‘i Fire Department station through Dec. 4. For more information, contact Kaua‘i Marine Corps League Detachment No. 938 Commandant Rod Green at kauai.hi@toysfortots.org.
Founded in 1947, the first Toys for Tots was held in Los Angeles when Maj. Bill Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit collected 5,000 toys for children in need. Hendricks also worked as the director of pub- lic relations at Warner Brothers Studios, and was friends with many celebrities who sup- ported the inaugural Toys for Tots program, including Walt Disney, who designed the first Toys for Tots poster that included the iconic miniature three-car train logo.
In 1991, the Marine Toys for Tots Founda- tion was established to help run and support the Marine Toys for Tots Program, and cur- rently distributes an average of 18 million toys to 7 million children annually. In 2001, Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i at Kāne‘ohe Bay officially launched a local campaign, making this year its 20th anniversary.
“I remember being part of a similar pro- gram when I was growing up,” shares Ibarra. “There were a lot of times growing up that I didn’t have toys. My mom was going through some hard times, and at that time (I was may- be 8 to 11 years old), I was at school and they selected a couple of students that were going through some hardship. They would take us to this huge party with a combination of dif- ferent schools in the district, and they would call us up on stage and hand us our gifts. I still remember that skateboard that they gave
www.gardenpondskauai.com
In Kilauea, next to Mini Golf • Open Wed-Sun • 12 to 5 pm
Creating that
“place of peace
and balance”
in your garden
828-6400
Sell us
GOLD! Instant payment
or get EXTRA 15% if applied toward merchandise
h
s
t
o
p
w
e
a
v
e
a
r
n
r
i
v
e
d