Wailea association partners with Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui to help families in need.

The Wailea Community Association (WCA) is taking the reins early this year to provide Santa with some much-needed kokua in bringing a smile to the faces of many of Maui’s keiki and families in need this holiday season.

“Our annual Keiki Kalikimaka Toy Drive has been extremely successful over the past five years, thanks to the generosity of our residents and the guests of Wailea Resort,” said Bud Pikrone, WCA general manager. “We are very proud to announce that this is our sixth year and we have partnered with the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui to expand the reach of our annual toy drive to the growing number of Maui’s children and families in need.” Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui is a private, nonprofit organization supporting the Children’s Justice Center of Maui.

WCA will collect new, unwrapped toys from Friday, Nov. 28, through Tuesday, Dec. 23, in toy drop boxes at the Wailea Fire Station, The Shops at Wailea, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Wailea Community Association Office (at Diamond Resort) and Island Sotheby’s at The Shops at Wailea.

Toys collected at these locations will be gathered by WCA volunteer “elves,” and distributed to over 25 different human services agencies in Maui County. Friends of the Children’s Justice Center receives requests from these agencies year-round, and last year it provided 1,700 children with Christmas gifts. Recipients included Maui Family Support Services, Child and Family Services, Women Helping Women Maui, Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Center, Malama Family Recovery and others.

“We anticipate the requests to increase this holiday season, due to our current economic downturn,” said Friends Executive Director Randy Echito.

Also, monetary donations will allow WCA to purchase educational toys in addition to those collected in drop boxes. Checks should be made payable to WCA (indicate “Toys for Kids” on the check).