With less than a week to Christmas, The Garden Island/Zonta Club Christmas Fund, thanks to your generosity, is doing well, and promises to bring cheer to many.
As of Wednesday, it has received total donations of $20,880, and has more than risen to the challenge to meet a donor’s pledge to match any donation over $150 up to $5,000.
“The community and friends of Kauai have helped us in surpassing the goal for the match,” wrote Darrellyn Lemke, chairperson of the Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, a nonprofit for fundraising.
She said it was heart-warming to open the envelopes containing donations not only from residents of Kauai but also from the mainland. What meant even more were the messages of goodwill and appreciation that came with those donations.
Here are some messages sent with their checks for the Christmas Fund:
• “Thanks for all that you do for the community!” — Rick
• Dean and Alana addressed their card to Yoshiko “Dimples” Kano and said “Keep up the good work”
• Leighton and Cathy said: “Thank you for helping those who are less fortunate.”
• Doris said: “Thank you Zonta for doing a great job.”
• Craig said: “Hoping donation will inspire others to donate also. He has been donating for the past 4 years.”
• Nancy said: “Thank you for the work you do! (Saw the article in the GI).”
• James and Mary said: “What you do for so many is so very important.”
• Evelyn donated in memory of her husband: She hopes that her donation “brings joy and happiness to those that may be in need.”
Through Christmas Eve, The Garden Island shares daily, front-page stories about families (we don’t use their real names) facing challenges. Donations to the Christmas Fund are used by Zonta Club members to bring holiday cheer to families and individuals through social service agencies.
Hundreds applied for assistance through the fund.
One official with a social-service agency wrote this to Kano: “We are so grateful for all the work that you do to help make the holidays brighter for our kupuna and community.”
The Zonta Club of Kauai was started April 1, 1952, and in the ’80s added the Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, a nonprofit for fundraising. In the 1980s, Zonta Club of Kauai partnered with TGI to publish stories — with information provided by social agencies — about their client’s needs.
We’ve been at it since.
One of those people the fund will help include Beth, a 14-year old student who is bright, but ended up on probation following the death of a family member. She is active in sports and would love any kind of sports equipment.
Another teenager who could use your help is Ramona. The 15-year-old is in a difficult situation and is being raised by a person who has special needs and struggles to keep up with Ramona. The girl likes fashion and makeup and is willing to set aside bad habits, as she just needs positive role models. The hope is to give her makeup and art supplies.
Each donation is accounted for and recorded. There are no administrators collecting salaries.
Donations may be made to: The Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, PO Box, 3032, Lihue, 96766, or by way of their website: zonta-kauai.org.
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
