LIHU‘E — Catholic Charities partnered with Hope Collective Church, and got help from the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank to distribute Christmas gifts to more than 150 individuals on Saturday during a drive-thru format at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
LIHU‘E — Catholic Charities partnered with Hope Collective Church, and got help from the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank to distribute Christmas gifts to more than 150 individuals on Saturday during a drive-thru format at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
“We took care of at least 150 individuals,” said Melody Lopez of Catholic Charities. “These are not families, but individuals. Some are senior citizens, others are parents, or children. They come in and register with us to let us know what they want. This makes it personal, and the gift item more special.”
Once registered, Catholic Charities goes out to fulfill the gift requests. Hope Collective wraps the presents and, collectively, the recipients get their presents during the drive-thru event.
“Once we get the line moving, it’ll clear real fast,” Pastor John Cabello told Jim Whitfield, a Kaua‘i Lions Club volunteer manning the Toys for Tots collection boxes at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center. “We have about 60 families representing the people getting presents, so it should move quickly.”
Whitfield was concerned about people attempting to turn into the center and being stuck in the busy holiday traffic on the Veterans Memorial Highway, especially those attempting left turns.
In addition to the package of wrapped presents, each car received a lot of holiday cheer wishes, a package of five COVID home test kits neatly bundled with a candy cane, and a bag of rice provided by the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank.
