Two Kaua‘i nonprofits received grants from the Weinberg Foundation totaling $20,000 based on service projects undertaken by two Rotary clubs, Saturday. The Rotary Club of Kaua‘i repainted the interior of the Kaua‘i Food Bank facility in Nawiliwili, and the Rotary
Two Kaua‘i nonprofits received grants from the Weinberg Foundation totaling $20,000 based on service projects undertaken by two Rotary clubs, Saturday.
The Rotary Club of Kaua‘i repainted the interior of the Kaua‘i Food Bank facility in Nawiliwili, and the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay repainted the former cafeteria building at the Kilauea School.
In return, the Rotary Club of Kaua‘i selected Leadership Kaua‘i as the beneficiary of the Weinberg Foundation grant while the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay selected the Kaua‘i Food Bank to receive the $10,000 grant.
The state has no money to move ahead with the plans to make this cafeteria into the administration building, said Robert Dickstein, the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay public relations chair.
Kilauea School’s former cafeteria building was relocated after the school received a new building to accommodate its growing student population with plans for the former building to become the administration building.
But with the budget crunch, work stalled and the building became an eyesore for people frequenting the school, Dickstein said.
“The repainting project by the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay makes it a sight for sore eyes instead of an eyesore,” said Yen Upson, president of the Kilauea School PTSA, in a release. “This project does not only benefit Kilauea School, but also the Kaua‘i Food Bank. This is truly a win-win project for all of us.”
Branch Lotspeich, the community service chair of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, said the project was requested by then-principal Fred Rose to “beautify” the old cafeteria building while it waits to have its final restoration done.
“We are very fortunate to have the support of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay to help our school beautify its campus,” said Sherry Scott, the Kilauea School principal. “Knowing that this work will also lead to a Weinberg Foundation donation to the Kaua‘i Food Bank shows that this is truly a win-win situation.”
Rotarians arrived Saturday morning following a weekend’s work last week where the building was washed and bleached to be able to receive the paint.
“You should have seen it after we got through,” Dickstein said. “Just the washing made a big difference.”
Judy Lenthall, executive director of the Kaua‘i Food Bank, joined the Rotary Club of Kaua‘i in repainting the inside of the Nawiliwili facility.
“We let the Rotarians use some of the equipment from Puhi Paint and helped them get started with the project,” said Ron Garlie, one of the Puhi Paint principals while collecting used eyeglasses for recycling at a Lions Club function.
“Lion Kelvin Moniz is down at the Food Bank helping the Rotarians get their project moving as well.”
Moniz, who serves as the Food Bank’s operations manager, said the building’s inside was in need of some work, but they have been so wrapped up with trying to feed people that it was pushed back.
The Rotary Club of Kaua‘i got help from Island School students, including Bailee Morrison-Fogel, Hayley Uliana and Christy Mayfield who said they really would like to have a paddling team so they could compete in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation.
“We came so close to winning last year, but we don’t have a team this year,” Mayfield said. “But it’s alright because we can be cheerleaders and cheer everybody on.”
Dickstein said at Kilauea School, the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay got help from visiting Rotarian Cindy Dumon who is here from Novato, Calif. Dumon also brought along a visitor from Vancouver, Canada, June Poulsen, who is planning on joining the Rotary Club after Saturday’s project.
“I’ve heard so much about what the Rotary clubs do and after this, I think this is something I would like to do,” Poulsen said.
Some of the recent projects done by the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay include the design and building of the outdoor recreational area to improve the quality of life for long-term residents at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, the “Adopt an Angel” holiday gifts to foster children on Kaua‘i, the awarding of $4,000 scholarships through the “Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i” program, and more.
The Rotary Club of Kaua‘i meets at noon on Fridays at JJ’s Broiler in the Anchor Cove shopping center. The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay meets Thursdays at the Church of the Pacific, but Dickstein said they will be relocating their meetings to the St. Regis hotel in Princeville.
For more information, visit www.hanaleirotary.org or www.rotaryclubofkauai.org.
