Kids and their caregivers receive high fives as they enter the 2018 “Star Light, Star Light” party held at the Women’s Correctional Facility in Kailua last December. Children receive gifts from their moms thanks to donations to the diocesan-sponsored party each year. (HCH Photo: Anna Weaver)
It’s the 20th annual “Star Light, Star Bright” Christmas party, and organizers are looking for help to cover the costs of the reunion between female inmates and their keiki.
The party, to be held this year on Dec. 7, is sponsored by the diocesan Office of Prison Ministry and thrown at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua for women inmates, their children and children’s caregivers.
Although it is held in a prison yard, the party has all the trappings of a normal Christmas get-together with family and friends: a puppet show, games, arts and crafts, karaoke and Christmas music, food and a visit from Santa. Moms get the rare chance to hug and cuddle their kids and spend face-to-face time with them.
But “Star Light, Star Bright” is asking for help to make the party possible. It could use the following:
- 100 donations of $25 Walmart gift cards to cover the cost of gifts for children and their families
- 10 donations of $20 Pizza Hut gift cards to sponsor a pizza party with kids and their moms
- 8 donations of $20 McDonalds gift cards to cover the cost of breakfast for neighbor island families traveling to Oahu for the party
- 30 donations of $50 Costco gift cards to pay for event meals
- $3,000 in monetary donations to cover the cost of airfare and other travel expenses for neighbor island families coming to Oahu for the party
Online donations can be made at www.catholichawaii.org/starlight.
Gift cards and checks can also be mailed to “Star Light, Star Bright!”, St. Stephen Diocesan Center, 6301 Pali Hwy., Kaneohe, HI 96744. Make checks payable to “Roman Catholic Church.”
For information, contact Toni Bissen at slsb@rcchawaii.org.
