LIHU‘E — Volunteers from the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i created at least 25 House Warming Baskets for the homeless and at-risk homeless residents in the Mana‘olana Homeless Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing programs operated by the Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Saturday.
LIHU‘E — Volunteers from the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i created at least 25 House Warming Baskets for the homeless and at-risk homeless residents in the Mana‘olana Homeless Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing programs operated by the Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Saturday.
The service project, involving more than 25 adult volunteers as well as volunteers from the Easter Seals of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, and even some members of the housing project, was done under the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Friends “Hands On” project where, on completion of the project, the Weinberg Foundation presented a $10,000 grant to a nonprofit organization of the Zonta Club’s choosing.
The Easter Seals of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, was selected as the beneficiary by the Zonta Club who completed the project at the KEO offices located adjacent to the housing project in Pua Loke.
“KEO requested House Warming Baskets for the homeless and at-risk homeless consisting of linens, kitchen items, cleaning, hygiene and beauty items, non-perishable food items, home decor and decorative items,” said Edie Ignacio Neumiller, the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i president, in an email.
The baskets will be presented by KEO staff as residents move from the Homeless Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing to permanent housing as a “housewarming basket” to help them start up in their new permanent housing.
The baskets can also be presented when a family moves from the Emergency Shelter to Transitional Housing.
Families living in the emergency shelter live on a night by night, first come, first served basis with no permanent stay while the Transitional Housing allows the family to “change” and “advance” to be able to obtain permanent housing.
Transitional Housing apartments are minimally furnished with the residents needing to supply linens, most kitchen items, cleaning and hygiene items and all personal items.
Families being served by the House Warming Baskets may vary from a single person to a family of seven, or more and the project will impact families in helping move to a “new” residence by providing necessities as well as a few extras to make their home special.
“This was one of the easier projects where we got to work in the shade,” said Dimples Kano, a Zonta Club member. “But we made up for it in the pocketbook.”
The House Warming Baskets were created for the homeless and at-risk homeless at the Zonta Club members’ expense by “beautifully” packaging essential and extra products in the baskets.
“The Zontians have for many years packaged gift baskets for other missions and have been known to do it with baskets or quality goods and wrapped beautifully in cellophane and luxurious ribbons,” said MaBel Fujiuchi, who made the presentation to Shane Tokita and Ellen Ching of the Easter Seals. “This Weinberg Friends program will impact the most needy in their quest for more permanent housing.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
