KBIG-FM aims to make holiday season brighter for keiki who need it most

There is still time to put a smile on a childʻs face this holiday season by donating to the annual KBIG-FM Toy Drive.

The Toy Drive supports Hawaiʻi Island organizations Hope Services, Neighborhood Place of Puna, Neighborhood Place of Kona, Queen Liliʻuokalani Trust and Project Hawaiʻi and the keiki they serve.

Toys will be sorted and distributed in time for annual holiday parties and get-togethers hosted by those supported organizations, which will distribute the donations to families in need. 

The organizations requested age appropriate items for children ages 0 to 3 years old, such as board books and puzzles, as well as items for teenagers including personal care items, headphones and water flasks. 

Hope Services also asked for socks and footwear for keiki of all ages.  

“There is not an exact number of donations we aim for, we typically get a list from the Neighborhood Place[s] of Kona and Puna, as well as the Queen Lilʻuokalani Trust,” said KBIG radio personality and program director Jill Bugado. “They break down the gender and ages for us.”

She said the Neighborhood Place of Puna usually serves about 200 kids, with quite a number of them from infant up to 3 years old.

“Once we make sure we have at least one present per age group for the organizations that provide a list, we divide the rest between Project Hawaiʻi and Hope Services, as they usually are not able to provide us with a rundown of their keiki,” added Bugado.

Donors should drop off gifts by Dec. 11 at all HFS Federal Credit Union locations islandwide, Kama’āina Nissan and Kama’āina Motors in Hilo as well as Club Rehab in Kainaliu and Kailua-Kona.

Donors also can scan a QR code on the poster at each location, fill out an entry form and upload a photo of their donation when dropping off their gifts for the chance to win an overnight stay at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in Kohala.

The winner will be announced Dec. 16. You must be at least 18 years old and and a Big Island resident to enter.

KBIG-FM and Kama’āina Nissan will also be collecting donations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 in the parking lot at the former Sears location at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo, with the goal of filling a truck with toys to deliver to the supported organizations for families in need.

Those who come out to donate that day will be entered into another giveaway for a chance to win a $100 gas gift card.