MEDIA RELEASE

KapohoKine Adventures donated 50 new Patagonia backpacks to HOPE Services Hawaii as part of an annual back-to-school campaign to provide school packs to Hawaii Island children living in homeless and domestic violence shelters or transitional housing facilities.

The backpack drive, spearheaded by HOPE Services and the Hawaii Police Department, is in its sixth year.

“We are grateful to KapohoKine Adventures for its generous donation as well as to other local businesses and residents for participating in the drive,” said Brandee Menino, Chief Executive Officer of HOPE Services. “Every year when we distribute the backpacks, we are profoundly touched by the excitement and appreciation of the children who receive them.”

“This backpack drive grew out of a homeless outreach project I was involved in years ago,” said HPD Chief Harry Kubojiri. “I noticed that a child was carrying all of his school supplies in a plastic bag and thought the community must be engaged in helping our less fortunate keiki prepare for the start of the school year.”

Over the years, approximately 1,600 school bags have been collected and distributed to the community’s most vulnerable children.

This year, the goal is to collect 400 backpacks so that every child that is homeless or living in a shelter has something they need to feel ready to excel in school.

“KapohoKine Adventures takes great pride in the community it operates in and is happy to contribute to the backpack drive, which targets children who cannot afford one,” said Gary Marrow, co-owner of KapohoKine Adventures. “We’re hoping that our donation is a call-to-action for other businesses to give.”

Backpack donations are being accepted at all Hawaii County police stations through Aug. 30.

For more information, contact Kubojiri’s office at (808) 961-2244.

HOPE Services Hawaii is statewide non-profit organization that is dedicated to ending homelessness and transitioning people off the streets.

HOPE Services provides innovative outreach programs and services to Hawaii’s homeless population including emergency and transitional housing, mental health outreach, SNAP assistance, prison re-entry services and the Care-A-Van program.

— Find out more:
www.hopeserviceshawaii.org