LIHU‘E — Myrvie Buster, of Garden Island Federal Credit Union, said Danielle Rieuhl is visiting from Seattle, and volunteered to help pack some of the nearly 3,000 backpacks of school supplies on Wednesday.
She was one of many people doing the same ahead of the Back to School Bash that will take place on Saturday at Kukui Grove Center.
“Look at her go,” Buster said between moving packed backpacks for transport to the storage area. “She’s like a machine. And she’s not even from here.”
The Back to School Bash is a school supplies giveaway for everyone from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance Kaua‘i is honored to support Back to School Bash again this year,” said Chad Buck of HFA Kaua‘i. “We believe this school supply giveaway is a great way to support our students and invest in Kaua‘i’s future leaders.”
Other HFA Kaua‘i volunteers were among the numerous people helping to prepare the backpacks of school supplies for distribution.
“Wait until you taste the pastries,” one volunteer chirped.
Melissa McFerrin-Warrack of Kukui Grove Center said the Back to School Bash is the largest school supplies giveaway for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade on Kaua‘i.
The giveaway is sponsored by the state Department of Education Kaua‘i Complex, Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance, and more than two dozen community partners, including several of the tenants at Kukui Grove Center.
“The 2023 event will be a dynamic, in-person format to provide a meaningful activity for families while keeping the online preregistration model to help spread out attendance,” McFerrin-Warrack said.
“Back to School Bash is an all-day event with fun activities for kids, family entertainment and prizes to encourage families to make a day out of back to school.”
Preregistration, as in previous eight years, is sold out.
“We expect more than 2,000 students and their families,” McFerrin-Warrack said.
“Some of these people may arrive early. Preregistered students will check in at the food court, and for those who are not registered, there will be a limited number of backpacks available Saturday morning. Any unclaimed bags will be distributed after 2 p.m.”
All families are invited to enjoy the center-wide activities for kids and enter to win prizes for kids and families, and enjoy the back to school sales and in-store events throughout the shopping center, she said.
Keiki to Career will lead the family resources and activities, which includes the Bandwagon Music Center, Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery, Executive Office on Early Learning, In Peace/Hoala, the Surfrider Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i ‘Ohana Resource Kiosk and more.
The entertainment lineup includes students of Aloha Dance Studio and Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre, Premier Martial Arts, Cruz Control, the Showtime Characters and many others.
“Community sponsors made all of this possible,” McFerrin-Warrack said.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
