PUHI — The Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League (KPWFL) officials, players and families have been delivering boxes of fresh produce to kupuna for the past three months, said KPWFL official Arnold Cruz.
“We (the five associations) have been delivering every other Wednesday,” Cruz said. “The load is at least 200 boxes of produce each time. I believe we have one more delivery — Aug. 26 — before the month ends.”
KPWFL families meet at the Regency at Puakea for pickup of their loads into the community from the ‘Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea (AHK) truck before dispersing to different parts of the island.
“This is my first time delivering,” said Raenell Jervis of the Koloa Pop Warner Association. “Usually I’m working, but they gave me the day off so I thought I’d come since I’ve never done it. We’ll take the delivery home, my son will change into his uniform, my daughter already has her supporter wear on, and we’ll take the deliveries out into the community. We have a game plan.”
Cruz said he provides the sweeper role, delivering into the communities that are missed when the person like Jervis can’t make it.
Lani Cummings of the Kapa‘a Pop Warner Association was juggling her total order, waiting on helpers to pick up boxes for their sections.
“People are very grateful to get the boxes,” Cummings said. “I live in Kilauea so I take deliveries to Hanamaulu, Wailua, Anahola, and I even have six boxes to drop off in Kilauea. One lady was so appreciative, she gave me a plant. She didn’t have to do that, but she was so thankful for her box, how could I say ‘no?’”
Cruz said the Pop Warner people started delivering under a grant from the Liliuokalani Trust. When that grant expired, the league transferred to AHK under a grant AHK received to support local farmers and get produce out to all parts of the island.
“People who get the boxes are really thankful,” Cruz said. “A lot of them don’t belong or participate in programs that get produce to them because they don’t know how to get into the programs, or have someone that can help them sign up.”
Renee Kawakami of the Lihu‘e Raiders Pop Warner Association said the produce delivery teaches lessons beyond the football field, like how to give back to the community.
“That’s why I bring my son Chase with me on the deliveries,” she said. “This might just be a box of vegetables. But what people don’t realize is that it’s expensive. Kupuna buy vegetables, but only minimal amounts because it costs so much. When we bring the boxes to the door, the people are so grateful and thankful some of them are close to tears. I’m thankful for the Kaua‘i Pop Warner for getting involved in this program that teaches life lessons.”
KPWFL President Teddy Arroyo is no stranger to giving back, having done a number of charitable events from providing bicycles to needy children during the holidays to doing gratis installation of equipment for the local food bank.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Hawai‘i, he got the five associations of the KPWFL to participate in a bento feed where the bento created from community-provided donations were delivered to Kapa‘a and Hanapepe by the different associations.
With the 2020 KPWFL season “on hold,” he wants to host another community feed after the produce deliveries end.
“Everything is being discussed,” Cruz said. “The KPWFL leaders meet and talk about different things so we can be ready to play — just in case.”
