A West Hawaii bookstore is spearheading an effort to get educational materials to at-risk students forced to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Brenda McConnell, co-owner of Kona Stories in Kailua-Kona, which temporarily closed its physical doors Wednesday, is coordinating an Education Support Drive to bring books and other educational materials to at-risk students while schools are closed.
“I don’t want anyone to get behind,” McConnell said. “The truth of the matter is we’re going to be lucky if these kids get back to school this year.”
Public and public charter schools, and most private schools, closed mid-month following spring break. This week, the state Department of Education announced schools will remain closed through April 30, with plans to provide parents with information about “enrichment opportunities” for their children.
“We are certainly targeting the kids that the parents would have a hard time buying those kinds of educational things,” said McConnell, also noting that while many materials are available online, the physical first reader or workbook is sometimes better for pupils in kindergarten through fourth grade.
McConnell ordered the first shipment of books and educational materials Monday through publishers Scholastic and Workman, and hopes to receive them early next week to begin distribution.
Though McConnell said she’ll take credit for the idea for the drive, she’s quick to declare it wasn’t hers, but rather that of a couple who travel between Northern California and the Big Island, with hopes to retire here one day.
“They called me up and they said, ‘We want to support our local community in Hawaii and we know the schools are at risk, and we are going to send you $500 if you can buy workbooks and get them in the right hands.’ And, I’m like, ‘sure, I can do that,’” McConnell recounted. “That’s how it started. I was like, ‘Gee whiz, there’s probably a lot of people that would love to support this.’”
Within two days, another $1,000 was raised. McConnell said that the bookstore is adding to the coffer and she’s also trying to get the publishers to contribute to the effort.
Donations can be made several ways, including by calling the bookstore at 324-0350, or visiting www.konastories.com/education-support-drive and using a credit card or mailing a check payable to Kona Stories to PO Box 390924, Keauhou, HI 96739.
The preferable method is a physical check, McConnell said, “because there’s no processing fees.”
“As money comes in, we’re just going to buy as much workbooks, flash cards, any kind of education stuff that we can and then we’re going to get it out there,” McConnell said. “I’m super excited.”
Donations are not tax deductible at this time, but the bookstore is exploring the idea of establishing a nonprofit.
“Hopefully, this can continue and this will be a program that we can grow on for a long time,” she said. “But, certainly, the goal is to get them through this school year and wherever it goes after that even better.”
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
