The following was distributed by the Waimea Community Association:

These are difficult times for too many people in our community. Here are some of the ways you can share the spirit of the holiday season and help those who need assistance.

Waimea’s Lokahi Giving Tree “Charlie Brown” Trees
Several Waimea businesses and churches are hosting “giving trees” to invite customers, friends and employees to support this in-gathering of “absolute necessities” so no one is forgotten this holiday season. Suggested donations are “the basics” – baby diapers, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath soap, laundry detergent, feminine products, rice, non-perishable foods (especially proteins such as Spam & tuna), or gift cards from KTA, Foodland, local farmers markets, gas stations, Costco, Walmart or Target. Trees are currently located at Kamuela Liquor Store, Hawaiian Style Café, Lilikoi Café, C&S Outfitters, St. James Episcopal Church, Napa Auto Parts-Waimea, and Alice’s Island Herbals booth at Waimea Town Market at Parker School on Saturdays. Donations also may be taken to the temporary Lokahi Store in PRC, open from 1-4 p.m., Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17, and from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. If the Lokahi Store is not open, please drop off donations at Parker Ranch Store. Waimea’s Lokahi Store hours will be expanded as volunteers are able, so please drop by. Also, Waimea Coffee Company is sponsoring an educational toy drive, HPA students have just completed a toy drive, and contributions also may be dropped off at the Waikoloa Village Association office and Hilton Grand Vacations Club. There are many other ways to kokua including contributing toward Christmas lunch preparation for shut-ins and homeless; a warm mahalo to Sensei Restaurant, which for the third year is doing most of the prep and also contributing some of the foods for these lunches for more than 100 individuals. If you know of someone needing help or want to help, call Rhonda Bell (880-1984) or Nancy Carr Smith (896-2239).

18th Annual “Charity Trees At Mauna Lani”
Daily throughout December. Winners to be announced Wed., Dec. 21, 2011. Local organizations, including charities, have created magnificent trees to raise awareness and funds and the competition is happily fierce! Decorated trees are exhibited in the hotel’s lobby and community friends, resort guests and employees are invited to view and vote for their favorite tree at a $1 donation per vote. Cash prizes are presented to the organizations with the most votes: $2,000 for first place; $1,000 for second and $500 for third. Public donations are split among all participating organizations, excluding 1st-3rd. More info, go to www.maunalani.com.

Waimea Businesses Hosting Annunciation Food Pantry “Red & White’ Donation Boxes”
About 250 families in our community rely on this pantry monthly for help and this includes many hungry children. Collection boxes have been placed in Waimea businesses to accept donations of non perishable foods to help stock the pantry. Several merchants are also offering Mahalo Incentives’ for your donations: At KTA’s Waimea Center: Solimene’s ($1 off your meal with your donation) and Big Island Surf (20% discount on clothing). Donations also accepted at Radio Shack, American Savings Bank, HFS Federal Credit Union, Without Boundaries, Babies To Tots, Paul Maria Salon, Lehua Jewelers and Leilani Bakery. Other Waimea locations: Mystic Hair and Nails at Waimea Town Plaza (5% off all services thru 12/31 with a 2-can donation). Also boxes at Kamuela Liquor Store, First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Offices of Dr. Stephen Rickard, DC, Gemma Ley, LMT at Waimea Office Center, and Office of Randall S. Cislo, DMD, at Parker Square. The Annunciation Food Pantry is open every Tuesday from 9-11 a.m. for a once a month food pickup. Info: Ann Lum – Annunciation Food Pantry Coordinator (640-4704).