PO‘IPU — What started out as an item on a tree will bring sparks of joy to at least 50 children this Christmas. Associates at the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club found out the results of the resort’s second stocking decorating
PO‘IPU — What started out as an item on a tree will bring sparks of joy to at least 50 children this Christmas.
Associates at the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club found out the results of the resort’s second stocking decorating contest, headed by Cathy Veatch, director of services, Friday during their lunch hour.
“You have to create the decoration so when the child sees it, they say, ‘Wow!’” said Sandra Muragin, one of the associates as they viewed the results of the 50 creations. “It’s not that easy.”
Veatch said there are four winners, each one getting a choice of handmade quilts she contributed to the contest. As associates viewed the results of the competition, they were free to enjoy cookies and baked goods along with coffee, milk or juice.
Associates get a stocking from the Tree of Giving where a needy child posts what they would want to get for Christmas.
“They get to fill the stocking from this list,” said Jolene Ogle of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club who went to view the results. “The contents don’t count. It’s the decorations on the stocking that will be judged.”
Veatch said the giving started last year when they worked with the Salvation Army to fill 25 stockings. This year, that number grew to 50 stockings with the Catholic Charities Hawai‘i being the beneficiary.
Lynnette Medrano-Stine of the Catholic Charities said the 50 stockings will go to needy children, most of whom attend Koloa School.
“Thirty of the stockings are for Koloa Elementary and 20 will go to homeless families that have been identified through Catholic Charities Hawai‘i,” Ogle said.
She said last year Catholic Charities had one Tree of Giving. This year, they now administer four trees with the help of the community organizations and businesses such as the Waiohai.
“We served 90 people last year,” Medrano-Stine said. “This year, there are 300 people on the list.”
In addition to the 50 stockings, Veatch said the resort also worked on 20 baskets to fulfill holiday wish lists from homeless people through the Catholic Charities.
“Each basket has a pillow, blanket, food, and other items being requested,” Steve Yannarell, general manager of the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, said. “Of the 20 on the list, they got everything they requested.”
Yannarell announced that Michelle Pascual was the first place winner for her honu theme. Katrina Sahut earned second choice of four lap quilts created by Veatch. Joanne Brun’s Hawaiian Nativity Scene captured third pick and Darrah Peleras’ Tahitian dancer theme rounded out the winners’ list.
Chuck Brady, the Marriott’s Director of Human Resources, was pleased with how everything turned out.
The associates get involved in sharing their good fortune with the community during the holidays, but above that, two of the four winners were from the Waiohai’s Human Resources department.
