Lihu‘e Early Learning Center students got a special treat Friday. Not only did they have an opportunity to walk from their pre-school to Kukui Grove Shopping Center, but when they got there, were greeted with a new library of books,
Lihu‘e Early Learning Center students got a special treat Friday.
Not only did they have an opportunity to walk from their pre-school to Kukui Grove Shopping Center, but when they got there, were greeted with a new library of books, CDs and some toys.
Debbie Chuckas, store manager for Macy’s at Kukui Grove, said the gift was a result of the store’s employees either bringing in books and items for the library under their Partners in Time employee volunteer program.
“The store paid for the bookshelf. Everything that’s in it came from the employees,” Chuckas said.
Amidst an occasional “Hi, mom!” from the sea of more than three dozen preschoolers, Chuckas said in addition to the library, the store will give the students Macy’s bookmarks and cap the morning with a treat of doughnuts and milk.
When early morning shoppers saw the sea of red-shirted youngsters appear with an assortment of Thanksgiving-themed headwear, they knew they were in for a treat.
In appreciation for the gift, the preschoolers provided a special Thanksgiving concert for the Macy’s employees who were mesmerized by the range of headwear spanning the spectrum of Indian feathers, pilgrim hats and bonnets.
“Macy’s wants us to give back to the community,” Chuckas said. “And this was fun and easy.”
The Lihu‘e Early Learning Center is located in the Kukui Grove West complex, just across the street from the recently-opened Costco gas station.
During the course of the year, Macy’s Partners in Time program has been involved in several major community undertakings, Chuckas said.
These include participating in the March of Dimes and Kaua‘i United Way walks, hosting their Community Shopping Day where local agencies and organizations become beneficiaries and their personal and corporate involvement helping the Kaua‘i Food Bank with its Summer Food Drive.
As the group settled in for their morning treats, Chuckas invited them to view the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade next week and closed with a tidbit.
“Did you know that Macy’s was the first store Santa appeared in?” she asked the group.
When a youngster wanted to know if Santa was appearing at Macy’s, Chuckas said, “At Kukui Grove, Santa will be appearing in the mall area. We need to share him.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
