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Association collecting toys for underprivileged keiki

The Wailea Community Association is accepting new, unwrapped toys through Dec. 20 at the Wailea Fire Station and at the Wailea Community Association office in Hotel Wailea for its annual toy drive.

“Our annual Keiki Kalikimaka Toy Drive has been extremely successful over the past 11 years, thanks to the generosity of Maui residents and guests of Wailea resort,” said Bud Pikrone, general manager for the Wailea Community Association. “We are very proud to announce that in our 12th year, we once again will be partnering with the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, expanding the reach of our annual toy drive to the growing number of Maui’s children and families in need.”

Toys will be distributed to more than 25 different human services agencies in Maui County. Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui receives requests from many agencies and last year provided 1,612 children with Christmas gifts. Recipients included Maui Family Support Services, Child and Family Services, Women Helping Women Maui, Child Welfare Services and Malama Family Recovery.

“In past years, many of our Wailea resort employees were very creative in their collecting of toys, such as an interoffice holiday potluck where employees brought a child’s gift to donate, instead of exchanging gifts with each other,” said Pikrone. “This is a time to come together as a community to share aloha and provide Maui’s keiki a smile on Christmas morning.”

“While we are always very happy to get any gift that someone wants to give for children of any age, the newborn-to-2-year-old age group tends to be the ones that are in need this year,” said Paul Tonnessen, executive director of Friends of the Children’s Justice Center. “We can also use gift cards ($20 or less), which are very well received by the teenage group.”

Pikrone also noted that “Monetary donations are greatly appreciated, as this will allow us to purchase educational toys in addition to those collected at the Wailea Fire Station.”

Checks can be made payable to WCA (indicate Keiki Kalikimaka Toy Drive on check).

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