LIHU‘E — There were a lot of Blessing Bags — more than a truckful that was going to the YWCA of Kaua‘i.
Kaua‘i Board of Realtors Association Executive Nani Sadora said KBR just finished its Blessing Bag-Hygiene drive last week, and the results were enough to deliver a lot of Blessing Bags to the YWCA, and a similar-sized load to Nana’a House in Waimea, a family resource facility that is part of Child and Family Service.
During the drive, KBR Realtor members amassed collections of personal hygiene products, including toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, laundry soap, dish soap, and more, including COVID-19 Personal Protection Products like face masks.
These form the ingredients of the Blessing Bag that will be distributed by the YWCA and Nana’s House as needed.
The prominence of personal hygiene products was brought to light by the recent signing of Senate Bill 2821 into law by Gov. David Ige that will provide access to feminine personal hygiene products to those who would otherwise not have access to them.
Under provisions of the new bill, the state will allocate $2 million to provide free menstrual products across Hawai‘i’s public schools.
The signing also raised awareness of the efforts of the Ma‘i Movement to raise awareness of this problem that has acquired the label “period poverty.”
Sadora said this was the second year for KBR to host the Blessed Bag campaign.
Starting July 1, KBR will host a clothing drive for young people ages infant to 5 years old to benefit the Child and Family Service, entitled “What you can spare, they can wear!”
Realtor members will be dropping off the collection to the KBR offices during the week of July 25 through 29, and the clothing will be distributed through Child and Family Service.
For information, call Nani Leininger at 808-634-2661.
