Jana Ogle and Sharae Cua had a unique sleepover activity yesterday — helping the community. “I couldn’t get any volunteers from work, so I got different kinds of volunteers,” said Jolene Ogle, Jana’s mother, who joined the pair outside of
Jana Ogle and Sharae Cua had a unique sleepover activity yesterday — helping the community.
“I couldn’t get any volunteers from work, so I got different kinds of volunteers,” said Jolene Ogle, Jana’s mother, who joined the pair outside of Wal-Mart as part of the Kaua‘i Food Bank’s Food Collection Day. “This is just one of the sleepover activities.”
Jana Ogle and Cua were just part of the youth volunteer effort that make charitable events successful as they were joined by members of the Kaua‘i High School Junior Varsity girls volleyball team.
“We’ve only been here a few minutes,” said Teal Basquez, one of the team’s leaders. “After this we go straight to the gym where we need to get ready for a game (against Kapa‘a).”
Basquez said the effort wasn’t that difficult because they were manning the side doors where traffic is not as heavy as the store’s main doors.
Earlier in the day, Michael Julian, a member of the Red Raiders football team, was volunteering at the Arthritis Foundation’s Arthritis Walk at Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
“I’m doing this because my mom works for the Bone and Joint Center,” Julian said. “After this, I join the (football) team and help collect food for the Kaua‘i Food Bank.”
Kelsey and Alexis Lima were also helping out at the Arthritis Foundation Walk, enjoying the music provided by guitar virtuoso Kenny Rapozo after completing the registration process for the walk.
“I’m going to sing the National Anthem,” Kelsey said. “But before that, we’re joining the walk.”
Nalani Brun of Ho‘ola Lahui had a similarly hectic morning schedule because she was slated to lead the warm-up exercises prior to the Arthritis Walk that preceded the Sports Health Fair.
That event featured Hawai‘i’s own Olympian Bryan Clay and a panel of professionals from the Bone & Joint Center available to offer advice and information.
The mall was already buzzing with activity in preparation for both the food bank’s Food Collection Day as well as the Sports Health Fair that were both taking place on the mall, yesterday.
In addition to the Kukui Grove location, the food bank had collection sites established throughout the island with volunteers manning the eight sites located from the Ching Young Village in Hanalei to the Ishihara Market in Waimea.
“The Kids Cafe program is a beneficiary of the Kaua‘i Food Bank efforts,” said Penny Ono of the Boys & Girls Club, Waimea Clubhouse. “So it’s only natural that we help to give back.”
Among the volunteers that were helping Ono at the Ishihara Market collection site were Ann Bacut, the Kids Cafe manager, and Jojie Geronimo, Bacut’s assistant.
Ono also pointed out Jordan Buyat, an eighth grader at Waimea Canyon School, who was no stranger to helping the Kaua‘i Food Bank.
“When he was in the fifth grade at ‘Ele‘ele School, he was the head of a food drive in his class,” Ono said. “He knows what is involved in trying to help take care of some of Kaua‘i’s hungry people.”
The Kaua‘i Food Bank launched its holiday food and fund drive Wednesday with the insertion of brown paper collection bags and envelopes in The Garden Island newspaper.
Readers could either bring the bags and envelopes to any one of eight collection sites and deposit them with the volunteers.
However, for those who were occupied, the food drive continues through Dec. 15, said Judy Lenthall, director of the KFB. People can drop off their contributions at any of the fire stations on the island, or at the KFB facility in Nawiliwili during its operating hours Monday through Fridays.
The goal of the KFB Holiday Food and Fund Drive is 40,000 pounds and $40,000, all of which stays on the island to help fulfill the approximately 5,000 monthly requests for food.
