LIHU‘E — Activity was brisk on Friday during The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center monthly collection at the Kaua‘i Resource Center.
Within three hours of opening, the crew had filled one shipping container with contributions, and the storage bay inside the Kaua‘i Resource Center was filling rapidly.
“We only ordered one container for this month,” said Shantelle Rego, the county Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division project manager. “We were slow during the last collection so we didn’t order. The items being stored are from today’s collection.”
David Chung, the ARC team leader, said they had unloaded about a hundred cars in the first three hours.
Despite the flow of traffic of contributors, there was time for the six ARC crew members to enjoy a healthy snack and beverages between the line of cars flowing through the unloading area of the Kaua‘i Resource Center.
“One of the new guys is from Kaua‘i,” Chung said. “He’s new so we can’t talk about any of the new guys. But I have my steady crew of Garet Marrotte and Julius Antolin. We have Walter Shoaf cutting the grass outside the Kaua‘i Resource Center because we can handle the traffic in here.”
Chung said this trip didn’t have any special pickups so the crew spent a few days helping at The Salvation Army Lihu‘e and Hanapepe Corps.
“Wednesday, we had the team bush-whacking and cutting grass in Hanapepe,” Chung said. “We just couldn’t make it to the Refuse Transfer Station or green waste. Thursday, the boys were painting at the Lihu‘e Corps. That set up Walter to cut the grass around the resource center, too. We just like to help wherever we can.”
Chung said the next trip for the ARC team is on Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kaua‘i Resource Center.
“We don’t have anything scheduled for December because we’re going to be busy in Honolulu,” Chung said. “It’s December so we’re going to be bell-ringing at the Red Kettles, The Salvation Army is doing its Angel Tree, and there are a lot of holiday-related activities.”
During the monthly contribution events, residents, businesses and other organizations can bring in unwanted or unneeded items for reuse. This includes clothing, small furniture, children’s toys, books and shoes. Clothing and textiles do not need to be in good condition, and torn or stained clothing is OK to contribute.
The team asks that eWaste, chemicals, appliances or broken items not be brought in, and before contributing, the team encourages the public to check with local thrift stores to see if they can take any of the donations before bringing them in.
While visiting the Kaua‘i Resource Center, officials remind contributors to remain in their vehicles due to health and safety concerns because of the heavy equipment in the area, and to reduce the chance of injury to customers while unloading heavy items.
The ARC also offers pickup services from thrift stores and businesses. Call 808-241-4336 for scheduling. Individuals who want home pickup service should contact the Habitat for Humanity Kaua‘i ReStore at 808-335-6105, or the for-profit RP’s Random Closet at 808-346-0020.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
