PUHI — Wayne Mukai was pleased with the gift bags they were about to create Saturday at the Regency at Puakea, an assisted living facility. As part of the East Kaua‘i Lions Club World Service Day project, Mukai was the
PUHI — Wayne Mukai was pleased with the gift bags they were about to create Saturday at the Regency at Puakea, an assisted living facility.
As part of the East Kaua‘i Lions Club World Service Day project, Mukai was the chairman of the project involving the creation of gift bags by residents of the Regency at Puakea to be presented to neglected and abused children.
“We’re not making the bags,” Mukai said. “We’re just setting everything so the residents can make the gift bags. If they need help, we have Lions available to help them.”
Once completed, Mukai said they scheduled 156 of the gift bags to be distributed through the various community service agencies who work with children.
“This is such a good project,” Mukai said. “We take care of both ends of the age spectrum — the kupuna feel good about being able to help children who need the help, and the children get something special for the holidays.”
As the residents began filling the activity room where the five different stations were established for the gift bag creations, a resident lost little time getting to the piano and filling the room with Christmas carols.
Sharon Lasker, the Regency at Puakea marketing director, brought in a supply of freshly baked cookies and punch to keep the activity moving.
Mukai said Saturday’s World Service Day project was not the first time the club took care of the keiki.
“Last year, the club did healthy snacks,” he said. “This year, we’re including school supplies and personal hygiene items.”
The project comes ahead of the Lights on Rice holiday parade on Friday when the Lions of East Kaua‘i Lions Club are already anticipating their roles as safety marshalls along the parade route.
Jeff Venzon, recently taking the reins of the EK Lions Club, said they are looking ahead to celebrating its 75th Diamond Charter Anniversary in April 2013.
“Seventy-five years of service to the community, Lions International District 50, and the world,” said Elaine Saiki in the Lions’ newsletter. “Lions from our international twinning clubs, Shimonoseki West of Japan and possibly Baguio City Host Lion Club of the Philippines, will be attending to help EK Lions Club celebrate this milestone.”
The East Kaua‘i Lions Club meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center starting at 6:30 p.m.
Visit www.hawaiilions.org for the latest on Hawai‘i Lionism as well as the monthly newsletter, the Lions Bone.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
