KAPAA — If the Girl Scouts did not contribute the slippers, Carol Gibson, the Kapaa Elementary School health aide, said she would have had to buy them on her own. “I usually buy them in lots of 20,” Gibson said.
KAPAA — If the Girl Scouts did not contribute the slippers, Carol Gibson, the Kapaa Elementary School health aide, said she would have had to buy them on her own.
“I usually buy them in lots of 20,” Gibson said. “We go through a lot of rubber slippers. I usually use safety pins and tape to try and get as much life out of them as I can.”
Six Girl Scouts from the Kapaa Elementary School ASHP program donated 50 pairs of slippers this week.
But the contributions didn’t stop there as the scouts lugged two school uniform recycling bins, 10 new school uniforms, an assortment of backpacks, and a supply of green paint, painting supplies and brushes so the custodians could repaint some of the school benches.
“This is part of the proceeds the scouts earned from their recent Girl Scout Cookie sale,” said Shereen Hoopii, the membership and program service coordinator for Kauai. “There are only six girls in the program, but they worked hard on the sales.”
Hoopii said the girls will probably spend some time helping paint some of the benches during the summer.
Christine Watten, the Kapaa Elementary School ASHP leader, said the choice to give to the community in need was voted on by the six girls, including Lalea Hara, Malie Osakoda, Loea Keanaaina, Siante Auwae, Alyana Barut and Talia Farrington while doing a Girl Scout lesson.
“I’m getting a photo so I can post this recycling bin on social media,” said Sherry Farrington, Talia’s mother, who helped the girls lug the supplies from their meeting area.
Gibson said in addition to school uniforms, she encouraged people to contribute shorts.
“We go through a lot of shorts,” Gibson said. “We can always use more.”
Hoopii said the uniforms, which come from families whose children no longer need them, are collected, sorted, washed and cleaned before becoming available for students visiting the school’s health room.
“Some of the scouts know homeless families and their choice for a service project comes from that knowledge,” Hoopii said. “These are some very smart girls.”
