BY KIMBERLY HUFF SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY ADVERTISING The fifth annual Community Cares event was held Saturday at Kona International Market. Live music was in full swing by 12:30 p.m., and volunteers bustled about tending to various stations. The
BY KIMBERLY HUFF
SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY
The fifth annual Community Cares event was held Saturday at Kona International Market. Live music was in full swing by 12:30 p.m., and volunteers bustled about tending to various stations. The goal was to raise money and awareness for Community Cares, a nonprofit organization that provides funds for various local charities.
Among local organizations represented at the fundraiser were Hope Services Hawaii, Kona Community Hospital and Speak Out Against Domestic Violence.
Gideon Ramos, Hope Services director of program development for its transitional housing program, greeted visitors as they walked through doors. The Hope Services table offered information about its homeless shelter. Hope Services is one of the local charities assisted by the fundraiser.
“Our goal is to increase job skills as well as independent living skills,” Ramos said.
Blue-shirts reading “Empowered Infinite Possibilities for Women” distinguished volunteers from Kona’s local domestic violence abuse shelter. Malai Kaulamu of Kailua-Kona was one of those volunteers. “It’s great to see so many people volunteer their time today,” she said.
Community Cares is the brainchild of Tiana Steinberg of Kailua-Kona. Steinberg, a former victim of domestic violence by her first husband, as well as a former cancer patient, explained the importance of a community caring: “The funds raised today will go into one big pot and be doled out to the various charities.”
Funds were raised through suggested donations for various services offered at the event. There was a rummage sale, a silent auction, massages, hair cuts, food and information stations for the various charities.
The need to help cancer patients is near and dear to Steinberg’s heart as well. Tiana owns a wig shop in Kona, and sells wigs to cancer patients at reduced prices. Funds raised Saturday will go to Community Cares, and portions will help offset the costs of wigs.
Among the vendors present were Innovations Hair Salon and Taco Del Mar.
Edward Wong, assistant manager of the Matsuyama location of Taco Del Mar, said Steinberg had walked into his store just three days prior asking for donations or volunteerism.
“It sounded like a good cause, so I wanted to help,” he said. A portion of the proceeds from Taco Del Mar nachos and soda sales at the event were given to Community Cares.
“It’s a chance to give back to the community,” said Jonah Ochmann, Kona Commons Taco Del Mar assistant manager.
Jerrie Stafford, who works at Innovations hair salon, agreed. Stafford said a regular customer of hers had introduced her to Steinberg, and that is how she learned of the event and Community Cares.
“It’s a great chance to give back,” she said.
On hand to cut and style hair for a suggested donation of $10, Innovations staff was also taking hair donations for Locks of Love, a nonprofit that makes wigs out of human hair for the benefit of cancer patients who have lost their hair after radiation treatment.
