KOLOA — St. Rafael Church has been hosting a pantry program for emergency food for more than 20 years, but this is only the third year Tina Brun has spearheaded an outreach program where deliveries are made to Kaua‘i’s homeless
KOLOA — St. Rafael Church has been hosting a pantry program for emergency food for more than 20 years, but this is only the third year Tina Brun has spearheaded an outreach program where deliveries are made to Kaua‘i’s homeless families and people.
“This is the holidays,” said Joe Brun, Tina’s husband. “Just because they don’t have houses to live in doesn’t mean they don’t want the same thing all of us enjoy.”
Joining the St. Rafael parishioners, Gini Kapali, the community relations officer for Kukui‘ula Development Company, brought over about 15 volunteers to work alongside the parishioners in packing the holiday packages for Kaua‘i’s homeless.
“Originally, she told me they were going to be nine people,” Tina said. “But when I came in this morning, there were 15 people and this project is going to end quickly.”
Tina and Joe had just returned from a trip to the Kaua‘i Food Bank to pick up food to supplement the contributions from the church parishioners.
“The good thing about working with this group is everything is neat and packed ready to go,” Kapali said. “This makes everything go smoothly and we can finish early. We’re part of the community, and when people like this do things for our homeless, we’re happy to be a part of the work.”
Tina said the food pantry program was started by Joe and Marie Petro and Hugh Riley.
“Marie would’ve been here today with her apron, but she just got out of the hospital,” Tina said.
In addition to getting help from the Kaua‘i Food Bank, Tina said Kaua‘i High School provided empty boxes and poinsettia plants, Long’s Drugs also provided more empty boxes to hold an assortment of foodstuffs, blankets, towels and more.
She said deliveries to the homeless will start Saturday.
Her delivery route will take her to the Westside, working to Hanama‘ulu Beach and possibly to the Kapa‘a Beach Park and, if supplies last, out to ‘Anini Beach.
“You can tell who are the homeless,” Tina said, noting that when you see their faces filled with appreciation for what others are doing for them, that is one of the feelings of Christmas.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
