LIHU‘E — The American Red Cross Kaua‘i Chapter finished a three-day Hats Off campaign Sunday with collection centers hosting volunteers through 6 p.m. “This is the first time we’ve had five sites, and the first time we’ve had sites go
LIHU‘E — The American Red Cross Kaua‘i Chapter finished a three-day Hats Off campaign Sunday with collection centers hosting volunteers through 6 p.m.
“This is the first time we’ve had five sites, and the first time we’ve had sites go all three days,” a Red Cross board member said, joining Cub Scouts from Pack 168 and other volunteers in front of Walmart. “Last year, we only had one site and did it for one day.”
Laura Burman, the Kaua‘i chapter director, has been on the job for just several months, but already mobilized volunteers to be able to do the fifth Hats Off fundraising initiative at the different sites.
“Not all the sites were open for three days,” she said. “But the Walmart and Kukui Grove sites in the central area started from 4 p.m. Friday and we’ll wrap up Sunday at 6 p.m.”
Burman said the ‘Ele‘ele Big Save did Friday night and Saturday. Other sites added to this year’s Hats Off collection points include Safeway in Kapa‘a and Foodland in Princeville.
“We’ve been blessed by the tremendous support and aloha shown by the people during this event,” Burman said. “The aloha, love and support for the American Red Cross has been overwhelming.”
Virginia Beck, a contributor Sunday at Walmart, said her mother was a paramedic with the Red Cross during the bombings in London.
“My mother was a Red Cross volunteer for 50 years,” Beck said. “We were constantly told about helping the Red Cross and what the Red Cross does for communities.”
Richard Etzel, the volunteer coordinator for the event, did an excellent job coordinating the more than 120 volunteers who manned the five sites over the three-day period, Burman said.
“Tom Iannucci of the Breath of Life Church was the site supervisor at the ‘Ele‘ele Big Save, Elaine Albertson and the Kaua‘i Amateur Radio Club led the Kukui Grove collection, Michelle Butler and Ramona Kincaid were site supervisors at the Safeway stores and Bob Robertson, a Red Cross volunteer, was the site supervisor at the Foodland, Princeville,” she said.
For those who want to help the Red Cross but missed the Hats Off, contributions are being accepted at www.hawaiiredcross.org. Burman said when visiting the website, people are also able to register for the free classes and become a Red Cross volunteer.
“We’re actively looking for new active service volunteers,” she said. “Our goal is for a safe, healthy Kaua‘i, and we’re always improving on our service.”
Some of the groups joining the Red Cross volunteer corps include the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council, the Lions Clubs, the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Mana, the Veterans Club of Kaua‘i, the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, the Pop Warner programs, the Kaua‘i Fire Department and the Ocean Safety Bureau, the Kaua‘i Amateur Radio Club, and the Visayan Club of Kaua‘i which showed up with the veterans.
Burman said the Subway stores and McDonald’s restaurants provided sandwiches and ice cream for the numerous volunteers.
She said the Hats Off event is a fundraiser for the Hawai‘i Red Cross with funds raised staying home to help with local services provided by the nonprofit.
Call 245-4919 for more information.
