Project Hawai’i seeking donations to bring Christmas cheer to homeless keiki

Tis the Season to bring holiday cheer to those in need, especially to children who are homeless.

Project Hawai’i is seeking donations to provide Christmas gifts to the 1,600 homeless keiki who have registered for Santa’s arrival across the Big Island, Maui and O’ahu.

Fill a Stocking: The tradition of a Christmas stocking is part of the experience of feeling loved and not forgotten. Stockings include art products, brain-building games, favorites like bubbles and kites, and healthy snacks. Since many keiki will go days without a meal and teens will go without basic life needs, these stockings provide the support they deserve.

A sponsorship of $15 provides a stocking for each child; $7 provides a meal card for their stocking to assure they have a hot meal when needed most; and $10 provides a gift card for teens to purchase most needed hygiene supplies.

Sponsor a teen: There are an overwhelmingly amount of teens who often are forgotten, the last to be chosen or not chosen at all. Project Hawai’i provides year round services designed to help these teens escape their cycle of poverty. Building self-esteem, teaching life and social skills, mentoring and job training programs are all part of their overall success.

However, Christmas is a very important part of childhood. It is so impactful that it can actually create the self-belief in a child’s mind. Being not worth little things leads to the self-realization of not being worth anything at all. Project Hawai’i is expecting 150 to 160 teens to be signed up for the program wish list this year.

Full sponsorships are $125, which includes a $50 gift card to let them choose what they want, a stocking that is a drawstring bag for carrying hygiene support, education supplies, etc. with a $10 gift card, a meal card and a Christmas meal.

Project Hawai’i also is accepting $50 gift cards from places like Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, Target, Macy’s or a local mall. They can be mailed to P.O. Box 1844, Kea’au, HI 96749.

Feed a Family: $45 feeds a family of 4; $65 for a larger family; $7 to feed a child; $50 meal cards.

Secret Santas: Santa brings a gift that each child has specifically asked for. This detail is so important because it gives each child a sense of being individually recognized and loved. Instilling self-worth is one of the goals with the Secret Santa program. Collections on the Big Island run Dec. 1 through 15. Register to help an individual child.

Party support volunteers for Maui and Big Island are still open. Donations from companies and larger groups are needed and welcomed. Volunteers for fundraisers are needed Dec. 3 & 10.

For more information about all of Project Hawaiʻi’s Christmas/holiday programs, click here.