Wailea Community Association Spreads Holiday Cheer to Maui Keiki

13th Annual Keiki Kalikimaka Toy Drive.

For the 13th consecutive year, the Wailea Community Association hosts its annual Keiki Kalikimaka Toy Drive.

The public is invited to donate new, un-wrapped toys through Dec. 20 at the Wailea Fire Station and at the Wailea Community Association office, located in Hotel Wailea.

The toy drive, held in partnership with the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, benefits children in need as well as those who face abuse and neglect.

All toys collected will be distributed to more than 25 different human services agencies in Maui County.

Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, a private, non-profit organization supporting the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, receives requests from agencies year-round, and last year provided more than 1,600 children with holiday gifts.

Recipients include Maui Family Support Services, Child and Family Services, Women Helping Women Maui, Child Welfare Services, Mālama Family Recovery and others.

“Without the continuous support from people like Wailea Community Association, it would be difficult for the Friends to make the holidays a little brighter for the children in need in Maui County,” said Paul Tonnessen, Executive Director of Friends of the Children’s Justice Center.

Bud Pikrone, General Manager for the Wailea Community Association said, “Many groups have been creative in their collecting of toys, whether an inter-office holiday pot-luck, where employees brought a child’s gift to donate, or homeowners collecting toys at their association holiday parties.”

“This is a time to come together as a community to share aloha, and provide Maui’s keiki a smile on Christmas morning,” said Pikrone.

While organizers say they are always very happy to get any gift that someone wants to give for children of any age, “the newborn to two-year-old age group tends to be the ones that are in need this year,” said Tonnessen. “We can also use gift cards ($20 or less please) which are very well received by the teenage group,” he said.

Pikrone also noted that monetary donations are greatly appreciated, as it allows organizers to purchase educational toys or gift cards in addition to the toys collected. Checks can be made payable to WCA, with a memo on the check indicating that it is for the “Keiki Kalikimaka Toy Drive.”