KAPA‘A — Two weeks and 40 classrooms raised almost a thousand dollars in the “Cents for Samoa and Support for South Pacific Neighbors” campaign, Kapa‘a Elementary School officials said. “We had collection containers in all of the classrooms and of
KAPA‘A — Two weeks and 40 classrooms raised almost a thousand dollars in the “Cents for Samoa and Support for South Pacific Neighbors” campaign, Kapa‘a Elementary School officials said.
“We had collection containers in all of the classrooms and of the total, only $105 came in paper money,” said Jack Yatsko of the Kapa‘a Elementary School Parent Teacher Student Association. “The rest were in coins. The students and other volunteers went through 533 wrappers.”
Spearheaded by the PTSA, the fundraiser was organized to help Hawai‘i’s neighbors in American Samoa, the Philippines and Indonesia who have been impacted by recent natural disasters, states a release from the Kapa‘a Elementary PTSA.
“This project was pulled together very quickly over a two-week period and it shows the care and concern our school has for our neighbors in the Pacific,” Yatsko said. “The school’s Student Council, Heidi Tokuda, Katie Vercelli, Missy and Chris Hoesel and Joy Buccat were instrumental in helping to count out the collections. We hope this action step will contribute in some small way to the recovery efforts in these regions.”
Julia Hall of the American Red Cross, Kaua‘i Chapter, was on hand to accept the contribution from the Kapa‘a Elementary School students, staff and PTSA representatives.
The donation will be facilitated through the Kaua‘i Chapter of the American Red Cross, Hall said.
“I think it is wonderful that the PTSA, the kids and their families initiated this fundraising project to help the American Red Cross help others in need, specifically those individuals recently affected by disasters in American Samoa and the South Pacific,” Hall said. “We are always grateful for community support to our Disaster Relief Fund and International Response Fund, and happy to give the students at Kapa‘a Elementary an opportunity to show their compassion in action.”
Hall presented the school with a Certificate of Appreciation that will be displayed in the school’s office.
Hall said people can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial contribution to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, or the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
The American Red Cross honors donor intent and contributions can be mailed to: American Red Cross, 4371 Puaole Street, Suite A, Lihu‘e, HI 96766. Online contributions can be done through a secure Web site at www.hawaiiredcross.org.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
