Fund-raiser to benefit
health care for children

Waikiki Health Center has placed 319 canisters at 141 retail sites on the island to raise funds to meet medical needs of Oahu's underprivileged children.

Safeway Foundation, sponsor of the health center's Back-to-School campaign, kicked it off with a $10,000 donation. The Hawaii Medical Service Association and AlohaCare each gave the center $1,000.

The funds will be used to provide school-required immunizations, physical exams and year-round general medical care to needy and homeless children at the health center's clinics and outreach sites.

"Safeway has always been an active part of the communities we serve, and we are proud to partner with the Waikiki Health Center on the 2005 Back-to-School Canister Drive," said George Glukfeld, general manager of Safeway stores in Hawaii.

"This program will help raise money to make sure students are prepared for school and ready to learn, and we commend the Health Center's efforts."

The Waikiki Health Center provides about 1,000 medical visits annually to school-age children of low-income, uninsured or homeless parents who cannot afford the high costs of medical care.

Canisters will be on display throughout the Labor Day weekend at retail outlets such as Kazi Food's, Burger King, KFC, Orange Julius, Pretzelmaker, Domino's Pizza, Grace's Inn, Patti's Chinese Kitchen, Dave's Ice Cream and Mark's Hallmark.

Donations from residents, foundations and businesses will enable many more needy children to start school on time, stay healthier and miss fewer days of school, according to the Waikiki Health Center.

Families can take their children to the Health Center's clinic on Ohua Avenue in Waikiki or to the center's outreach sites in Haleiwa and Kahaluu. Services are offered for free or at low cost, depending on the family's income qualifications.

Children also are screened at the clinics for eligibility to enroll in the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides medical and dental coverage.

Volunteers assisting with the fund-raiser included seniors from Moiliili Community Center who applied labels to the canisters featuring Safeway Foundation and Waikiki Health Center logos; members of Kiwanis Club of Honolulu and the Central Y Men's Club who distributed the canisters; and employees at Bank of Hawaii's Kapahulu Branch who offered to count the proceeds, as in previous years.

Donations may be mailed to the Waikiki Health Center's Back-to-School Campaign at 758 Kapahulu Ave., Suite A-319, Honolulu 96816.

For more information, call 922-4788.