HANAPEPE – The holidays began on Friday for families participating in the family distribution that took place at the Salvation Army, Hanapepe Corps. Captains Bob and Karen Schmeg were occupied from early in the morning despite the couple’s plans to
HANAPEPE – The holidays began on Friday for families participating in the family distribution that took place at the Salvation Army, Hanapepe Corps.
Captains Bob and Karen Schmeg were occupied from early in the morning despite the couple’s plans to stagger the pick ups and try to schedule family pick ups while the children were still in school.
But, the crowd still arrived early, and by mid-morning, a lot of the packages had already disappeared from the chapel where the wrapped presents were stored for those children that were already registered.
Capt. Karen said that by mid-morning, the Hanapepe Corps had registered 188 children, and counting the walk-ins, had been able to accommodate about 200 children in all.
Additionally, families with no children, especially the elder citizens, totaled 108 without counting any of the walk-ins, Capt. Karen added.
The distribution for the elderly and families without children was scheduled for Friday afternoon once the bulk of the toys had been moved out of the facility that resembled Santa’s Workshop.
Volunteers from the Marine Corps League who spark plugged this year’s successful Toys for Tots campaign were joined by Santa who welcomed all of the toddlers accompanying their parents to the Friday distribution.
The marines explained that while the Hanapepe Corps was involved in the family distributions, the Lihu‘e Corps was handling their agency distributions on Friday, and the marines will help Lihu‘e on Tuesday, Dec. 21 when the Lihu‘e Corps hosts their family distributions. They added that they wanted to be closer to the recipients, the smiles of youngsters who would otherwise go without, being the only reward they needed for their own holidays.
However, they noted that Capt. Mitham Clement had at least one agency that would be picking up at least 400 assorted toys on Friday.
Capt. Bob explained that the distribution came about as a result of several holiday drives across the island including the Toys for Tots program and the Kaua‘i Food Bank’s holiday food drive.
Additionally, individual donors who patronized the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and contributed to the Red Kettles fueled the efforts.
Capt. Bob added that this year, there was good news for the kettles as an anonymous family informed the offices that they would match dollar-for-dollar, anything collected through the Red Kettle program surpassing last year’s totals.
Last year, the Lihu‘e Salvation Army raised over $28,000 in its kettle campaign with the Hanapepe Salvation Army raised close to $11,000.
In addition to the toys for keiki, families checking in at the Hanapepe Corps were offered stocking stuffers, a supply of food, and an opportunity to browse through the clothing table for anything they could use to help clothe the children.
Salvation Army volunteers were quick to add that all of this was possible through the creativity of Capt. Karen, the volunteers noting that before everything was organized, there were things everywhere.
Stocking stuffers were segregated into a section for boys, and a section for girls, each goody bag containing a small toy, some snack items, and other little goodies that would appeal to youngsters.
For Kylen Lancaster-Vegas, 2, the distribution was overwhelming as he clung to his mom’s arm despite catching a glimpse of a new bicycle that was wheeled out by Santa.
Dad Kyle Lancaster wheeled the new gift down the line as mom Latasha Vegas selected Kylen’s stocking stuffer, strapped the bag of food to her free arm, and browsed through the clothing for something that would fit the youngster.
Kyle smiled, “He’s (Kylen) getting older, now, and at least he’s going to know (the spirit of) Christmas.”
For Melody Kanahele, loading her van with help from Marine Corps volunteer Gene Redden with items designated for four families, “It would be sad (without this). I just don’t know.”
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
