WAILUA — School-aged youth were pleasantly surprised Tuesday when The Salvation Army Lihu‘e Corps arrived with packages of school supplies and a bonus toy at the homeless area at the Lydgate Park camping area near the Kamalani Kai (Bynum) Bridge.
“We’re just fulfilling a request we got Saturday when Salvation Army Capt. Cathy Simon visited the area with breakfast,” said Janice Bond, The Salvation Army advisory board member. “One of the ladies asked for school supplies for the camp’s school-aged young people.”
Simon was moved by the request and acquired enough supplies to create 20 bags containing note paper, tablets, notebooks, note cards, pencils and coloring books.
“Additionally, she got some toys for the kids,” Bond said. “I also brought along keiki-sized fabric face masks so the keiki can get some protection, too.”
Napuanani McKeague of Voices of Kaua‘i Lydgate La Hui that manages the homeless area said there are 19 children and 14 kupuna among the population of more than 100 people who occupy the camping area that is currently designated as maximum capacity.
Currently, the state Department of Education has the schools closed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and students are on distance learning and enrichment programs while the schools remain closed for the remainder of this school year.
“Our oldest school-aged youth is 17 years old,” McKeague said. “If the DOE has people on distance learning because the schools are closed, why isn’t anyone doing something for our kids? We should have internet and Wi-Fi service at minimum so the kids are able to participate in the programs.”
She said they received a visit from a church Sunday, where someone took the list of school-aged youth, to help get them on board the DOE distance-learning and enrichment programs.
“Every small thing can put a smile on a child’s face,” said Patrick Garcia as he helped McKeague and Jamie Ornellas organize the delivery to the keiki in the area.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
