Question: Does that lady still collect cards for goodie boxes for children? I saved stuff and then misplaced the information. Please repeat if she is still active.
Answer: Yes, Marilyn Gilbert and her church group volunteer year-round, decorating and filling shoeboxes with gifts that are distributed to needy children worldwide. In fact, we just received an email from Gilbert thanking Kokua Line readers for their support and seeking donations of fabric to make quilts for the children. Here’s her message:
“First, let me thank you and all your amazingly generous readers for their abundant donations to Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry. By the grace of God, we have already packed close to 4,000 boxes this year.
“Your readers continue to surprise me by emailing, writing notes, or shipping via USPS, sharing their donations of cards/notepads/stickers/wrapping paper/calendars/pens and so many other much-needed items.
“Some folks actually drive to Kailua and deliver their treasures to my home. How blessed am I to not only receive the donations but to actually get to meet your faithful readers and put a face to their kindness. Yesterday, some folks came over with a huge bag of accumulated cards and as I was going through the cards I came across the Kokua Line article you wrote … and the article was kind of yellow and dated Jan. 7, 2016. Talk about faithful readers; they hung on to that article for three years.
“I am also writing to ask if you would find a small space to let your faithful followers know that we are in need of fabric. We have an amazing angel who is 92 years old and loves to make small quilts … So far she has sewn over 900 small quilts that fit perfectly into the shoeboxes. It would be marvelous if any of your readers would share some of their fabric stash to provide these precious quilts for the children around the world, who could then wrap themselves in aloha from Hawaii.”
Anyone who has fabric to donate can contact Gilbert by email at gil.aloha@hawaiiantel.net, phone at 261-6087 or mail at 247 Akiohala St. Kailua, HI 96734.
Q: I heard about what sounds like an interesting talk about Mauna Kea at the Convention Center. Is it open to the public?
A: Yes, as long as the member of the public is registered to attend the Native Hawaiian Convention, during which the panel discussion “Mana Mauna Kea: The Power of the Mauna in Uniting the Lahui” is scheduled to occur.
It’s set for Sept. 23, with panelists Kaho‘okahi Kanuha, Noenoe Wong Wilson and Lanakila Mangauil, moderated by Mehanaokala Hind, according to the convention website, at hawaiiancouncil.org/convention.
The 18th annual convention, which is convened by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, is scheduled for Sept. 21-25 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Registration is open to the public, at fees ranging from $75 to $275, depending on the package you choose. Certain fee waivers are available; you can find out more on the website.
Auwe
Auwe to the big white truck that ran over a black cat in the lower Tripler parking lot on Sept. 3 at about 9 p.m. … Silky was a sweet cat who had been living in the area for about 15 years. — Reader
Mahalo
Mahalo to the alert driver who prevented the car in the next lane from mowing me down in the crosswalk on King Street. He could see what was coming and so he honked and his passenger waved their arms out the window to get the other driver’s attention. Mahalo whoever you are; I believe you saved my life. To the oblivious driver: If cars in lanes on both sides of you are stopped, wake up! There’s a reason for it! — Pedestrian
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
