Wailea Toy Drive Hopes to Help 1,500 Keiki

By Wendy Osher

Toys, photo by Wendy Osher.

The Wailea Community Association’s continues to collect toys for its annual Keiki Kalikimaka Toy Drive.

The collection campaign began on December 1st and continues through this Friday, December 23rd.

Association General Manager, Bud Pikrone credited the generosity of residents and guests in Wailea with the success of the program over the past eight years.

“We are very proud to announce that in our ninth year, we once again will be partnering with the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, expanding the reach of our annual toy drive to the growing number of Maui’s children and families in need,” said Pikrone.

Toys, photo by Wendy Osher.

The public is invited to drop off new, unwrapped toys to the Wailea Fire Station, and to various other locations throughout the resort, where toy drop boxes (decorated wtih red brick chimney designs) have been placed.

In addition to the public drop box locations, Wailea Resort hotels along with condominium and homeowners associations are also collecting toys.

“Many organizations came up with creative ideas to collect the toys, such as an inter-office holiday pot-luck, where employees brought a child’s gift to donate, instead of their exchanging gifts with each other” said Pikrone, “This is a time to come together as a community to share aloha, and provide Maui’s Keiki a smile on Christmas morning.”

Toys collected are gathered by volunteers and distributed to over 25 different Human Services agencies in Maui County.

The non-profit Friends of the Children’s Justice Center receives requests from agencies throughout the year for assistance.  The list of recipients includes Maui Family Support Services, Child and Family Services, Women Helping Women on Maui, Child Welfare Services, and Malama Family Recovery.

Last year, the toy drive provided 1,500 keiki with Christmas gifts.

“While we are always very happy to get any gift that someone wants to give for children of any age, the following age groups tend to be the ones that are often overlooked” said Anne Leuteneker, a gift Program Coordinator for the collection drive.

• 9 – 12 yr old girls:  Suggested items include board games and books as well as activity kits – jewelry making kits, tattoo kits, painting bird houses, bead or pottery kits.
• 10 – 12 yr old boys:  Sports equipment or slap watches, science and remote control items are suggested.
• Gift cards ($20 or less) work well for teenager.

Pikrone also noted that, “Monetary donations are greatly appreciated, as this will allow us to purchase educational toys in addition to those collected in our drop boxes.”

Checks can be made payable to the Wailea Community Association (indicate “Toys for Kids” on your check).