LIHU‘E — Frank Kleckner of the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots said the island is taking care of its keiki this Christmas. Kleckner started the Marine Corps League involvement with the Toys for Tots program 10 years ago. He
LIHU‘E — Frank Kleckner of the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots said the island is taking care of its keiki this Christmas.
Kleckner started the Marine Corps League involvement with the Toys for Tots program 10 years ago. He said he has just one more weekend to stand outside Walmart soliciting shoppers for contributions of new toys for Kaua‘i’s children who would otherwise not have a toy for Christmas.
“But everything is good because we are up from last year’s collection,” he said Wednesday as he watched the results of the collection being distributed between the agencies working with getting toys out to keiki for Christmas.
Norberto Garcia of the Marine Corps League said after weeks of manning positions at Walmart and Kmart, the fruit from this year’s drive will soon be distributed.
Envoy Joy Groenleer of the Salvation Army, Lihu‘e Corps, said the distribution will take place Dec. 22 starting at 9 a.m.
Among the items going out this year are $6,500 worth of gift cards for older children and about $7,000 in new toys, Kleckner said.
“Right now we have more than 200 applications from families needing help during the holidays,” Groenleer said. “That includes more than 580 children. We’re still accepting applications up until (Christmas). The last day for Angel Tree applications is this Friday, and anything after that, we cannot guarantee, but everyone will get something.”
At this pace, Groenleer estimates that the need will be up slightly from last year’s figures that came in at just over 250 applications.
“This year’s applications are primarily for children and seniors on fixed incomes facing the holidays with increasing medical costs and no one here,” Groenleer said. “They are requesting simple things like blankets or a watch.”
Lt. Sarah Smuda of the Salvation Army, Hanapepe Corps, said there was one family who requested blankets for all its members.
“I got some help from my family, a cousin on the Big Island sending some blankets, some in Washington state getting comforters, and the rest coming from the community,” Smuda said. “They’ll get their blankets, and a whole lot of toys for the children.”
Smuda said this year’s requests are about the same as last year, but it’s still early.
“The community seems to know there is a greater need this year and have been doing more,” Smuda said. “Nana’s House in Waimea just got through hosting a party at the Waimea Theater where the children got to see a movie and have food. It’s good to see the community rising up and we just fill the gaps.”
Smuda said she is also scheduled to receive a container of toys from the Leeward Corps, an unexpected boost to her efforts at filling holiday requests.
“Once the requests are filled, we’ll probably set up a ‘store’ at Pa‘anau Village where parents can come and select a toy or two for their children,” she said.
To fund the programs, the Salvation Army relies on programs such as the Toys for Tots and its Red Kettles.
“We also had some new programs this year,” Smuda said. “JC Penney had the Angel Tree online and about five families from Kaua‘i took advantage of that where they paid for the merchandise and Penney’s took care of the shipping.”
Her Westside Red Kettle drive had a slow start, but as the holidays draw closer, has made up the difference, currently being a little ahead of last year.
Groenleer said the results of the online kettles, another new program this year, won’t be known until after Dec. 24. Currently, the Lihu‘e collections are about 17 percent behind last year. She said the statewide collections from Red Kettles are about 20 percent below last year.
“Last year was a phenomenal year,” Groenleer said. “We had volunteers, and there were contributions, so if you take that into consideration, we’re about par for the collections two years ago.”
Additionally, Groenleer said to help with the holiday food distribution, Foodland has its own program, Share A Feast, where Foodland shoppers can make a donation while shopping. The Salvation Army receives gift cards from Foodland which will go out during the distribution day next week.
Groenleer said there are still ways for people to help before the holidays.
In addition to volunteering to ring bells at the Red Kettles, she said people can stop by during the evenings to help wrap the many gifts earmarked for family requests.
“I’m at the Angel Tree until 5 p.m., so if people or groups want to come and help wrap presents, we start from about 6 p.m.,” Groenleer said. “Everyone is welcome and with school being let out for Winter Break starting Thursday and young people coming home from college for the holidays, if they have some time to help, we welcome everyone.”
Smuda said once the holidays are done, the Hanapepe Corps will be embarking on an outreach program for the homeless on the Westside with Leadership Kaua‘i.
“We’ll be making about 150 toiletry kits for adults, and for the children, backpacks with school supplies,” Smuda said. “These will be distributed during a party at Salt Pond in January.”
Groenleer said The Salvation Army just doesn’t want to let families go without a gift, if it’s needed.
For more information or to volunteer, call 245-2571 or 335-5441.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
