By Barry Villamil
Saturday’s Pearl City Toys For Tots Christmas Donation Drive-By held at the Momilani Community Center was a huge success from the heartfelt support from our community with their brand-new Christmas toy donations for children in need on Oahu and on Maui.
The toy donation drive started a couple weeks ago at our eight Pearl City Elementary Complex Schools. Toy donations made at each campus were brought to the Momilani Community Center this past Thursday and were combined with Saturday’s toy donation collection. Toy donations filled around 19 Toys For Tots collection boxes along with a brand new bicycle.
Mahalo to the Pearl City Foundation who presented the 3rd annual Pearl City Toys For Tots Christmas Donation Drive-By along with sponsors Hawaiian Electric and the Pearl City Lions Club.
I am so proud and honored to have once again co-chaired the toy donation drive with Pearl City Foundation Director Naomi Tully-Ungacta. I am also a part of the Pearl City Shopping Center’s support for the event.
Mahalo to Fabian Villanueva, USMC Toys For Tots Coordinator for being there today in uniform while helping to collect and box donations throughout the 3-hour toy donation/collection event. Mr. Villanueva also transported the toys back to the Marine Corps distribution center to be sorted and prepped for distribution to deserving keiki. Mr. Villanueva and his USMC Toys For Tots Team will be at the NEX in Aiea this Sunday, December 3 passing out toys from 10:00am to 2:00pm to keiki who were registered online.
There is also a very special Toys For Tots toy distribution scheduled for Maui on December 21 for keiki affected by the Maui fires. The goal is to extend Aloha to the keiki and their families with love, kindness, and happiness during the Christmas season. A brand new toy and a big smile will carry the spirit of giving during Christmas upon us all.
Mahalo to the Pearl City Lions Club, Senator Brandon Elefante, Senator Henry Aquino, Representative Cory Chun, Pearl City Foundation staff (Misa and Cliff), Pearl City Elementary Complex Schools, and the community for also generously supporting the 2023 Pearl City Toys For Tots Christmas Donation Drive-By.
A huge mahalo to Santa and Mrs. Claus for stopping by on Saturday, especially during the very busy Christmas season!
I would also like to say mahalo to two very special brothers Aidan and Brady (and their mom) for helping out with collecting the toy donations and for the pretty cool hand-made Christmas present.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!
Video and Photos by Barry Villamil | MyPearlCity.com
