The Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island received a giant hug of reassurance from the community this week after the dishwasher water heater at the Hilo Clubhouse was stolen.
“We have gotten so many calls from community members and organizations and businesses who offered to help us,” said development director Jasmine Branco.
The organization recently installed a gate around the water heater after it was vandalized, but someone ripped the gate away early Tuesday and took the apparatus.
Club leaders say they received offers of help from Advantage Chemical LLC, Akaka Falls Lions Club, Altres Staffing, Big Island Table Tennis Association, Delima’s Plumbing, Fukunaga Electric, Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill, Lanky’s Bakery, Lincoln Wreckers, Shigehara Plumbing and many Hilo and mainland residents.
“All have a unique connection, many as past youth program participants, all have a heart for the organization and its youth-focused mission,” a statement from the club said.
The water heater for the dishwasher was critical to the organization’s meal service. The clubhouse feeds about 100 children daily during its summer program — the primary source of nutrition for some of those kids. No clean and sanitized dishes, no meals.
The cost for a replacement, installation and security upgrades to prevent a recurrence is estimated at between $3,500 and $4,000.
Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill served lunch Thursday for about 60 Boys and Girls Club members during a special luncheon buffet at the downtown Hilo restaurant. The offering was a stand-in for the meal the kids would otherwise get at the clubhouse.
“Food is my friend. It’s like a party in my belly,” said Kaia Stimson, 8, of Keaau.
“This is something special for the kids, for sure,” said Boys and Girls Club CEO Chad Cabral. “For some of them, I would think this would be a rarity for them to come to a restaurant.”
Mari Derla, Jackie Rey’s general manager, said the restaurant wanted to feed the children — and offered to donate a water heater. The restaurant’s maintenance worker offered to install it.
“He’s going to bolt it down for them, so that way it’ll be more secure,” Derla said.
Boys and Girls Club leaders are working with donors to make it possible to install security lighting and video surveillance to make the grounds and building more protected from theft and vandalism.
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
