KAILUA-KONA — For more than a decade, Community Cares founder Tiana Steinberg has changed the lives of cancer patients on the Big Island, one wig at a time.
And once a year, she encourages the island community to give back as well.
“We are an all-volunteer, nonprofit group, and we depend on the Big Island community for funds and resources,” Steinberg said. “Our motto is: To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
The 12th annual Community Cares event is a fundraiser to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport Park to benefit Community Cares Cancer Resource Center and Wig Closet. For just a $5 donation, attendees can enjoy performances from local musicians, haircutting stations, facepainting, massages, photo booths and a costume contest to go with this year’s theme, “Over the Rainbow — Wizard of Oz Style.”
Located in Steinberg’s Kailua-Kona shop, Tiana’s Avon &Wigs, Community Cares supplies free wigs, head coverings, hats and, most importantly, a support system for cancer patients on the Big Island. Steinberg said the group sees an average of eight patients a month.
“It’s devastating. You get the diagnosis that you have cancer and it effects you,” Steinberg said. “You get depression, anxiety and fear. It’s a real life-changing experience. And on top of that you have your body image changes with your hair and your weight loss. It effects your confidence and it effects your self-esteem. So it’s important to have someone who’s hands-on and who’s there as one of their champions so they don’t have to worry about that part of the battle.
“It’s not just putting on a wig on someone and saying, ‘OK, you look great, there you go, bye.’ No. Talk with me, share your story, take the weight off.”
Community Cares also helps victims of domestic abuse and the homeless by providing daily need packages with hygiene products like shampoo and toothpaste. The event Saturday will have community outreach booths by CFS Domestic Abuse Shelter, Hospice of Kona, Kona Community Hospital, North Hawaii Community Hospital and the American Cancer Society.
A silent auction will also be held, which Steinberg considers to be the best on the island. Steinberg said she is asking for donations for the auction all the way up until the day before the event to ensure the auction has the best items available to bid on. She said it’s not difficult to convince potential donors to support the cause.
“People donate because they know someone, or have experienced it themselves, cancer, domestic abuse and homelessness,” Steinberg said.
The annual event is just one step this year for Steinberg and the Community Cares group, who work year-round to ensure cancer patients on the Big Island have all they need to make their lives easier. Steinberg said the goal for Community Cares this year is to raise $10,000.
“We’re going to be making a campaign where I will actually be going from hospital to hospital, to oncology groups, to smaller cancer awareness groups to make sure everyone knows that we exist here,” Steinberg said. “We’ve been here a long time, but not everybody knows who we are here. Granted, we are tucked away in the corner of our location, but it’s like one of those mom-and-pop shops. Some of those smaller places are some of the best places to go to.”
Info: The price of the 12th annual Community Cares event is a $5 donation at the door. Presale tickets for the event’s food booth are $10 and can be purchased on the event’s Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/events/1752829124816884/.