PO‘IPU — The hardest part is having to turn away a single mom, said Stephanie Fernandes of the Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity. Lani Aranio tried to discretely wipe the tears from her eyes while Fernandes said KEO only has space for
PO‘IPU — The hardest part is having to turn away a single mom, said Stephanie Fernandes of the Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity.
Lani Aranio tried to discretely wipe the tears from her eyes while Fernandes said KEO only has space for 19 people in need of temporary housing and have had to turn away people who need housing.
“Sometimes it’s five or six people, and sometimes, it’s a family,” Fernandes said.
This prompted the Stocking Planning Committee at the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club to re-think the distribution of gift boxes.
“We have some boxes going to KEO so the people who have to be turned away do not need to be out in the cold,” Waiohai General Manager Christina Gabriel said.
Clayton Siu of the Kaua‘i Missionary Churches Prison Ministries, said it’s good the Marriott name is on the items in the boxes because people need to know where the generosity comes from.
“A lot of times people say ‘Thanks, Clayton,’ but it’s not me, it’s the people like the Marriott Waiohai who come up with the items I simply deliver to the homeless,” Siu said.
Siu and Fernandes had a corps of volunteers waiting to pick up the results of the Waiohai’s third stocking contest where Waiohai associates would select a name from the Angel Tree and creatively decorate a stocking while fulfilling the request.
Cathy Veatch has been coordinating the contest for the past three years, each year the stockings growing more elaborate and the gift boxes getting bigger, Gabriel said. Floreva Cadavona, Pearl Butacan-Kaohelauli‘i and Jojo Razalan helped Veatch with the boxes which contained assorted toiletry items, towels, bedding, blankets and some cooking utensils.
“This is such a nice way of giving back to people who can have a little brighter holiday season,” Gabriel said. “We’re very glad to be a part of this.”
Veatch, the stocking contest coordinator, also creates a quilt which is presented to a lucky participant.
Katrina Sahut was this year’s top stocking entry, Sahut using her sewing skills to sew a blanket and a matching outfit for a doll which was also included in her stocking.
Michelle Pascual made two stockings using identical dolls, but each one dressed differently. Her stocking which did not place as the runner up was the elaborate item where she created a wintery tabletop piece to accompany the stocking.
Lyni Buano was the third place winner in the contest which saw all the stockings being distributed to KEO and the Prison Ministries programs.
“The Angel Tree stockings all go to kids of Kaua‘i people who are incarcerated,” Siu said. “They can be here, or on the Mainland, but their children will get a stocking.”
Siu said he works with The Salvation Army to get the boxes to the homeless because the Army works a lot with homeless persons. He also loads his car and delivers directly to Hanama‘ulu Beach Park.
“This is a beautiful thing you folks are doing,” Siu said. “When you see the faces of the people who receive these boxes, it’s indescribable just how happy they are.”
Gabriel said people are also welcome to visit the lobby of the Po‘ipu resort and bid on the special Christmas trees decorated by Troy Lazaro, the proceeds going to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.
