The response to this year’s Toys for Tots surprised Bud White of the Marine Corps League, Kaua‘i Detachment. White was one of the community partners on hand to distribute about $10,000 in merchandise and gift cards to Captain Mitham Clement
The response to this year’s Toys for Tots surprised Bud White of the Marine Corps League, Kaua‘i Detachment.
White was one of the community partners on hand to distribute about $10,000 in merchandise and gift cards to Captain Mitham Clement of the Salvation Army Tuesday.
“Just like last year, we have about $6,000 in merchandise and toys, and about $4,000 in gift cards to Borders, Wal-Mart, and Kmart,” said Frank Kleckner of the Marine Corps League.
“Primarily, the merchandise goes to the younger children and the teens get the gift cards and other items such as wristwatches and things they can use.”
Clement said the distribution will start going out starting Friday when the agencies pick up their merchandise for their clients.
He added that the Salvation Army, Hanapepe Corps will be doing its Christmas distribution to families on Friday starting at 10 a.m. The Lihu‘e Corps will have its Christmas distribution to families on Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We have more than 15 agencies that we work with,” Clement said. “That’s the same number as last year, and with the bad times we’re in, we don’t know how many children are affected.”
Those bad times Clement referred to was a surprise to White, one of the Marine Corps League volunteers.
“The response from the community has been better this year than in previous years,” White said. “I was surprised. With all the talk of the bad economy and downturns, I thought we would come up short, but the way people gave, it was heartwarming.”
The Salvation Army is continuing its Adopt-a-Kettle program at various locations around the island through Christmas Eve.
The Angel Tree program being hosted at the Wal-Mart and Kmart stores ends Friday night at 9 p.m., and the final Saturday Night Snow fundraising program at Kukui Grove Shopping Center closes this Saturday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In addition to White and Kleckner, other partners in the Toys for Tots campaign included the United States Coast Guard represented by Juan Perez, Wal-Mart represented by store manager Janie Whitehead, KMart represented by store manager Jarett Chytka, and Ace Hardware represented by store manager Tony Keale.
Kleckner added that Ralph Clark was also a key person in this year’s drive.
For more information on any of the Salvation Army programs, call 245-2571.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
