LIHU‘E — The Easter Seals Hawai‘i staff and volunteers moved more than a hundred kalua and cabbage plates an hour Wednesday during the Funds and Friends event at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. With the event open for about
LIHU‘E — The Easter Seals Hawai‘i staff and volunteers moved more than a hundred kalua and cabbage plates an hour Wednesday during the Funds and Friends event at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.
With the event open for about an hour, organizers extended the closing by an hour to accommodate the flow of people stopping by for their plate lunch and shopping through the variety of items available from Easter Seals clients.
“This is something we do twice a year,” said Liz Ann Vidinha of the Easter Seals Hawai‘i office. “We do this each November and March.”
The event offers Easter Seals clients an opportunity to showcase their achievements, including artwork, ceramics, photography and culinary arts. The offerings are supplemented by rummage finds and plants grown by clients at the Kapa‘a and Lihu‘e facilities.
Topping off the craft offerings was a plate lunch, which included kalua and cabbage with a side of macaroni salad and a bottle of water for $8.
“I came to pick up my lunch,” said Janice Ringor of the YWCA of Kaua‘i. “But I can shop around, too.”
Mary Mahoney of Lihu‘e, who recently moved to Kaua‘i, stopped for some plants, noting some of the goods being offered came from her move here.
The Funds and Friends event allows the Easter Seals staff and volunteers to bring their offerings to the public, supplementing the tent which they host at the Grove Farm Community Swap meets.
In addition to the offerings at Funds and Friends, Vidinha said the Easter Seals is taking orders for its annual Gingerbread Family Festival, which will take place Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kukui Grove Center.
The annual fundraiser for Easter Seals features a gingerbread house, which can be built by families and enjoyed through the holidays.
The gingerbread house kits can be ordered in advance or picked up at the event.
Families, which include company groups of employees and their families, can spend time creating their holiday creation amidst a fun and festive atmosphere, or take the kits as a “house to go” for creation elsewhere.
One gingerbread house, measuring 8 inches by 9 inches by 9 inches, with all the accessory candies and decorations is $29 with all of the proceeds benefiting Easter Seals Hawai‘i and can be ordered by calling the Easter Seals at 245-4132 or visiting www.hawaii.easterseals.com. There is an early order deadline of Dec. 5.
Volunteers wishing to be part of the fun can also call 245-4132 to register for the event.
Each gingerbread kit consists of gingerbread house pieces provided by Napoleon’s Bakery, a variety of candies, white icing in a disposable pastry bag, a flat cardboard foundation and clear gift bag.
Easter Seals Hawai‘i has been providing services to infants, children and adults with disabilities and other special needs and support to their families since 1946.
It recently dedicated “Kahiau,” the Easter Seals facility in Waimea, in the former Waimea Dispensary building.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
