Waiakea High holiday event raises $1,700 for island nonprofit

In December, students from Waiakea High School’s feeder elementary schools, Waiakeawaena and Waiakea Elementary, were invited to attend WHS’s ninth annual Santa’s Workshop.

“This annual holiday shopping frenzy allows the elementary schoolchildren the opportunity to purchase reasonably priced new or like-new items for their family and friends,” said event co-chairwoman Kelsey Nakamura. “Waiakea High School’s student body and staff members, along with the feeder schools’ faculty and businesses like J. Hara Store, donated items to the event.”

A record number of Waiakea High School students representing service clubs, student government and the Public Services Academy assisted by pricing items, setting up and serving as personal shoppers and gift wrappers.

“The number of student volunteers has grown, therefore the event moved smoother and faster than in previous years,” said Alyssa Hara, a junior who also served as the activity’s co-chairperson. “The younger students bring their shopping list which consists of five names and ages, and our personal shoppers greet them, assist them with shopping, paying for the items, assisting them at the gift wrapping station and returning the child to their respective adult.”

This year, Waiakea High School’s Student Government Association selected the Big Island’s A Dream Come True organization to be the recipient of the Santa’s Workshop profit of $1,700. A check presentation will take place Feb. 27 at the school’s annual Variety Show. The nonprofit A Dream Come True Hawaii works to grant seriously ill children of the Big Island their most wanted dreams and desired ambitions.

Anyone interested in donating items for the next workshop can call the student activities classroom at 974-4888, ext. 362.