The Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii and friends recently completed a work project at E.B. de Silva Elementary School in Hilo.
The small army of 32 volunteers completed 100 hours of community service painting poles around the campus “safety yellow” that have become faded over time. Volunteers also helped to prepare the school’s Learning Lab for asbestos abatement by packing and storing books and cleaning the book shelves.
The project was completed as part of the Harry &Jeannette Weinberg Foundation’s Weinberg and Friends Program. For completing the 100 hours of service, the Kiwanis earned a $10,000 grant to be awarded to a nonprofit organization that will benefit unserved and underserved keiki and their ohana in the community.
This year, the Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii selected Camp Agape of Hilo as the recipient. Camp Agape is a camp specifically for youth of incarcerated parents. Youth learn coping mechanisms, develop relationships and have fun in a nonthreatening, positive and caring environment.
“We are grateful that Camp Agape has been making a significant impact in the lives of the youth in our community who are going through such a difficult time,” said project chairwoman Cecily Nago. “The staff and management have worked tirelessly to be able to have a safe place for program youth to be allowed to be themselves.
“For staff to be able to connect with these keiki and help them to make good choices in life is a critical component of the program. Kiwanis members work to improve the lives of keiki and ohana in our community, and support of Camp Agape is a natural collaboration.”
For more information about Kiwanis, visit www.kiwaniseasthawaii.org.