The Rotary Club of East Honolulu continued a sweet and impactful tradition of presenting each student at Palolo elementary school with a wrapped Christmas shoebox filled to the brim with snacks, games, school supplies, and a logo water bottle. About 50 rotarians, rotaractors, employees from AXA Financial, and family & friends picked up, wrapped, stuffed, and presented about 300 shoeboxes to students at their Christmas program.
AXA Financial generously provided our club with a $2,000 grant to support this project and provided employees to volunteer over the course of this 2 month project. Students were very excited to receive their Christmas gift; for some it may be their only gift. The Principal and faculty and staff also volunteered with us and through tears of gratitude talked to our members about the impact these gifts will have on their students.
Volunteers gathered for two days of shoebox wrapping at Janice Kim's home, one day of stuffing at Palolo Elementary, and one day of presenting the gifts after Santa's visit to the students. For all who were involved, this was a project to be remembered.