A group of women brought together by their interest in supporting local nonprofit organizations has found a way to make it easier for others to give back to the community.
The ladies, who call themselves Simply Unique, will host a "Giving Back Table" at Saturday’s Nui Mono fall craft fair from 9 a.m. to noon at the Palolo Hongwanji, 1641 Palolo Ave. They will sell affordable handcrafted items, homemade jellies, pickled onions and gift baskets they created themselves, with all proceeds donated to the Autism Society of Hawaii.
The group of mostly retired professional women began to gel about five years ago while working on a fundraising project. They formulated their community service effort in response to the fact that many charities have experienced funding cuts in recent years due to the economic downturn. They have been good friends ever since.
While not all the members of Simply Unique are dedicated crafters, most say they find satisfaction in creating unique gifts. They work on the projects during the holidays, and their gift items are sold at selected craft fairs.
Simply Unique got involved in the Giving Back Table project after Lue Zimmelman of Nui Mono invited them to participate in the craft fair.
The Simply Unique bunch includes Muriel Miura Kaminaka, former Honolulu Gas Co. home economist and former TV cooking-show host who authored the classic cookbook "Japanese Cooking Hawai‘i Style" and other titles.
She said the group will be selecting other nonprofits to benefit from future fundraising efforts.
In the meantime the Autism Society of Hawaii is thankful for the support, according to Dr. William Bolman, president of the organization.
"Autism encompasses a spectrum of disorders, posing a range of developmental challenges," he said. Simply Unique’s donation will be used to foster awareness of autism, Bolman said.
Any Giving Back Table items left unsold will be donated to nursing homes and other groups. "It’s something small to brighten their day," Miura Kaminaka said.
The members of Simply Unique hope to encourage others to join them in the "spirit of giving," she added. "The volunteers work together while creating these gifts and have developed a very strong bond and cherish the friendship we share. It’s the camaraderie that motivates us to keep getting together."
The Nui Mono fall craft fair will include handmade clothing, jewelry, ceramics, handbags and other items created by vendors whose wares are sold in the Nui Mono shop at 2745 S. King St. They include Kim Kono, Marie Kodama, Kim Messier, Cora Yee, Wabi Sabi, Melons, Donna Miyashiro and Teru. Call 946-7407.
