Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Shriners Hospital
will accept crutchesQuestion: Where can I donate crutches used only a few weeks after an accident? I don't want to just throw them out if someone can make good use of them.
Answer: Honolulu Shriners Hospital for Children would be more than happy to accept your crutches, as well as walkers and wheelchairs in good working condition.
The pediatric orthopedic specialty hospital routinely provides such equipment for up to 40 inpatients and about 100 outpatients a week, said spokesman Duke Gonzales.
Thanks to the generosity of individual and corporate donors who make both monetary and nonmonetary donations, Shriners is able to provide specialized services and equipment "absolutely free," he said.
During the holidays the hospital also is looking for items that could bring cheer to individual patients, such as children's audiocassette players, noisemakers for toddlers, Barbie dolls and accessories, 24- to 100-piece jigsaw puzzles, and swim trunks and shorts.
"We are also seeking items that can be utilized for the enjoyment of all of the patients, such as craft supplies; beach balls; billiards supplies; music CDs; musical instruments like ukuleles, keyboards and drums; portable CD players; underwater cameras; film; Polaroid film; and, last but not least, a DVD karaoke machine with speakers and microphones," Gonzales said.
For those kinds of gifts, the hospital's "preference is to accept only new items."
You can drop off donations to the reception desk at Shriners, 1310 Punahou St., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, or 8 a.m. to noon on weekends. Special arrangements for dropping off donations at other times can be made by calling Gonzales at 951-3606.
Q: I was watching the University of Hawaii-Alabama football game and saw all those on-field signs -- who pays for those and why are they there? I also saw the USC-Notre Dame game that day, and they had cheerleaders and bands playing, but here there's nothing but those distracting ads. What's the rationale behind this at Aloha Stadium?
A: It may not be the most scenic of on-field views, but "it's one of the few ways we can generate revenue" at a football game, said Lois Manin, UH's director of sports media relations.
Those signs bring in about a half-million dollars in revenues each year, she said.
Because UH does not get any cut of parking fees, concession sales or signs affixed to the stadium itself, it needed to find a "creative way" to generate money to help offset the cost for renting and cleaning up the stadium after each game, she said.
It's also "pretty much the only way we can offer to recognize our sponsors," Manin said. The university doesn't have the opportunity to post "permanent signage" at Aloha Stadium.
And, although the UH band is in the stands, Manin said UH cheerleaders are on the field during games.
Calendars, anyone?
I have about two dozen beautiful but out-of-date calendars of animals and scenic places. I just hate to throw them away. Does anyone have any use for them? Call 587-6238. -- Carol
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Useful phone numbers
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com