How do children living without their true parents spend the holidays? That question plagued many minds of people involved in the Kaua‘i Foster Care Training Committee, a group of foster parents as well as public and private human service agencies.
How do children living without their true parents spend the holidays?
That question plagued many minds of people involved in the Kaua‘i Foster Care Training Committee, a group of foster parents as well as public and private human service agencies.
Children and families of foster children and other children affected by child abuse and neglect gathered at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, Wednesday afternoon, for the 10th annual Holiday Party for Foster Children.
The event, coordinated by the Kaua‘i Foster Care Training Committee, started the program to help foster children and children affected by abuse and neglect, to help bring a brighter holiday season.
“During this holiday season and year-round, many children are unable to live with their parents because of abuse and neglect,” according to Marcia Ota, foster care licensee and social worker at the Department of Human Services.
Securing the help of the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a, the event has blossomed to include the volunteer efforts of numerous community groups as they host the affected children to an afternoon of food, fun, activity and a visit from Santa who has an abundance of gifts for the children.
This year’s Hawaiian-style Santa arrived after his sea of stuffed animals, many provided by the associates of the Sheraton Kaua‘i in an earlier drive by the resort.
“Stuffed animals are good,” Ota said. “One size fits all.”
Additionally, the Kukui‘ula Development Company provided water, some snacks, and an army of volunteers who were visibly identified by their Kukui‘ula holiday aprons and a smattering of special Santa caps embroidered with “Kukui‘ula” on the fluffy, white brim.
Gini Kapali, the Kukui‘ula community affairs director, was busy snapping pictures of both volunteers and children, stopping only briefly to note that said the party was one of the feel-good events and Kukui‘ula associates were eager to help.
Support for the annual party, which Ota said has been taking place for about 10 years, comes from a grant from the Kaua‘i Children’s Justice Center, the county of Kaua‘i, Violet and Michael Bucao of Duct-Ter Sheet Metal, and the associates of the Sheraton Kaua‘i.
Happy the Clown was another of the community volunteers who flitted throughout the activities, stopping to chat with youngsters and volunteers alike.
A balloon artist was another stop in the activity-filled hall with groups from Hale ‘Opio Kaua‘i, the Department of Human Services, foster parents, the Department of Health, Department of Education, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Behavioral Health, the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center, Child & Family Service, the Kaua‘i High School Key Club, ‘Olelo Christian Academy, the Kula Intermediate and High Interact Club, and Colin Wilson and the Kaua‘i Fire Department all playing key roles in ensuring a brighter holiday for the children.
“More foster parents for children of all ages, including infants, are urgently needed,” Ota said.
People interested in providing a nurturing and loving home for a child can find out more about being a foster parent by calling Kirstie Kashima or Ota at the Department of Human Services at 274-3301, or 274-3303.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.
com.
