WAIPOULI — Three Kaua‘i Police Department officers, Sgt. Ezra Kanoho, Lt. Hank Barriga, and Sgt. Mike Gordon, were lifted to the top of the Safeway Stores’ roof early Thursday morning at Kaua‘i Village shopping center in Waipouli, to help the
WAIPOULI — Three Kaua‘i Police Department officers, Sgt. Ezra Kanoho, Lt. Hank Barriga, and Sgt. Mike Gordon, were lifted to the top of the Safeway Stores’ roof early Thursday morning at Kaua‘i Village shopping center in Waipouli, to help the Special Olympics program.
Below, two collection stations were being manned by Special Olympics volunteers, as well as some of the Special Olympics athletes themselves.
The three officers, who passed the time by observing traffic in the parking lot, and using a bullhorn, called out to familiar faces, beckoning them to the collection sites.
Jocelyn Barriga, the Kaua‘i area coordinator for Special Olympics, was busy manning one of the special tables, along with Jennifer Arashiro and a handful of athletes who manned fishnets bearing the Cop on Top logo.
Shoppers stopped by to drop contributions in the nets before entering, while others stopped off after their shopping to make a contribution as well as deposit their grocery receipts in one of the fundraising phases of the Cop on Top program.
For a minimum contribution, shoppers will have an opportunity to have their grocery bill paid.
Additionally, special Cop on Top T-shirts are available for a $20 contribution, and for a $25 donation, either an event cap or visor is available.
Shelly Gerardo, another of the Special Olympics volunteers, said that special entertainment by File 13 was on tap for Thursday night, and other officers would be on hand between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to provide keiki identification services.
The officers will remain on the roof until tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 3, when they will be lowered at 2 p.m. Special Olympics volunteers and athletes will be at their stations between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. through the event, said Jocelyn Barriga.
However, pledges can be made by calling their donated T-Mobile phone at 1-808-383-1105, Barriga fielding one such phone call early on in the event.
Additionally, people may contact the officers directly by contacting them on another donated T-Mobile phone at 1-808-383-1106.
Safeway employees were also provided with special event T-shirts to don during the promotion, Alberto Espanol showing off his gray shirt while wheeling in a load of shopping carts.
Gerardo said that last year’s event, the first for Kaua‘i, generated more than $16,000. The goal for this year, she said, is $15,000.
With more children joining Special Olympics Kaua‘i each year, Gerardo pointed out that the money is sorely needed because Special Olympics is funded solely through fundraisers such as the Cop on Top.
The Special Olympics mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
This experience gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
In addition to the Kaua‘i event at the Safeway store in Waipouli, there are other events being held throughout the state — 12 locations on O‘ahu, three locations on Maui, and two sites on the Big Island.
