Keiki Treat Homeless To The Movies

Terri Hefner
Wednesday - July 22, 2009
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A free trip to the movies and a lesson in compassion - that’s the ticket this summer for Windward Boys & Girls Club members.

Thanks to a $1,500 grant from Regal Entertainment Group, not only are the movie tickets covered, but transportation, fuel and staffing expenses for the trips to Regal Theatres Windward Stadium 10 in Windward Mall as well.

“We could go to the movies up to twice a week, but we’re not going to do that,” said Maureen Purington, BGCH Windward clubhouse director. “We have been once, and I am looking at partnering with the Next Step Homeless Shelter to treat them to a movie along with our kids.”


The idea came through staff member Stephanie Parker.

“With Michael Jackson’s death in the news, the kids were talking about his music, so she had them listen to Man in the Mirror and Heal the World,” said Purington.

During that exercise, Parker realized many of the children didn’t really understand compassion, so they discussed it and came up with the homeless shelter plan.

“From there the kids made Giving Bags - brown paper bags that they decorated - and the kids are going to fill them with canned goods, school supplies, little toiletry items, etc.,” explained Purington.“When we meet at the movies, the kids will give away the Giving Bags to one of the people at the shelter.

“We have an average of 50 kids a day in the clubhouse,” she added.“If we can arrange the event with the homeless shelter, I’m looking at two buses for the shelter and one for my kids, so it would be about 150 people total.We can use the $1,500 to pay for bus transportation and concessions while at the movies. We have to use the money by the end of August - which should not be difficult!”


The Windward Boys & Girls Club meets at Kailua Intermediate School, 145 S. Kainalu Drive in Kailua. Call 263-0555.

Boys & Girls Clubs have played an integral role in the Windward community for three years, providing daily programs and services to hundreds of young people.

The club is open Monday through Friday with programs that emphasize education and career enhancement, character and leadership development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.

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