LIHUE — Amid the din of shoppers hustling for Black Friday specials, the familiar ting-ting-ting of the red kettle bells topped the excitement of the holiday season. “This is the first time I’m ringing the bell for the Salvation Army,”
LIHUE — Amid the din of shoppers hustling for Black Friday specials, the familiar ting-ting-ting of the red kettle bells topped the excitement of the holiday season.
“This is the first time I’m ringing the bell for the Salvation Army,” said Kimberly Moniz as she got company from Kealoha Clement and Amita Samuel outside the Kmart door Friday. “I just thought it was a good way to spend part of my holidays.”
Kmart is one of the Lihue locations where red kettles will be set up through Dec. 24, said Salvation Army Lt. Elizabeth Gross during the launch of the red kettles at Kukui Grove Center.
Gross said the other locations in Lihue are Safeway, Times Supermarket, Longs Drugs and Walmart. Kapaa locations include Cost-U-Less and Safeway.
Lt. James Comb of the Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps said they need volunteers to help with the kettles on the South Shore, Eleele and Waimea.
South Shore locations include Big Save in Koloa, Sueoka Store, and Longs Drugs in The Shops at Kukuiula.
Big Save in the Eleele Shopping Center is the sole Eleele location. Waimea locations include Big Save and Ishihara Market.
Gross said collections from the red kettles help the Salvation Army with not only its holiday programs, but throughout the year.
“We want to make sure no one gets left behind, and by filling the kettles, the Salvation Army can continue its work to helping everyone,” said JoAnn Yukimura, representing the Kauai County Council.
Norma Doctor Sparks, a longtime Salvation Army supporter, remembers when her family got here from the Philippines.
“We lived in a plantation camp called Kukuiula where the club golf course is,” Sparks said. “During those days, the Salvation Army came and took all of us kids up to Koloa where we could enjoy the stores and many foods like shave ice — even if we were Catholic.”
The Salvation Army continues this practice of helping everyone, and bell ringers are needed throughout the holidays.
Info: Gross, 245-2571, Elizabeth.Gross@usw.salvationarmy.org, or Combs, 335-5441
