Maui Lions prepare to distribute Blessings Bags to the needy in 2020.

LAHAINA — During the month of June 2022, Lahaina’s Mauna Kahalawai Lions Club is once again gearing up to help those less fortunate.

The club needs your help and would like to invite the community and businesses to donate any small items, such as the following: soaps and body wash, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste, towels, masks, and Band Aids or any items associated with hygiene practices, preventative measures to reduce the incidence and spreading of disease, and personal health care (no razors, please).

Donations can be dropped off in the collection bins at the following locations: Keller Williams Realty Maui, 2580 Kekaa Drive, #118, at the Kaanapali Fairway Shops; Keller Williams Realty Maui, 285 W. Kaahumanu Avenue, #201, Kahului; State Farm, Chad Santiago, 40 Kupuohi St., #101, Lahaina; and Cycle City Maui, Maui Harley-Davidson, 890 Lower Main St., Wailuku.

Collection bins are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also call, text or e-mail Lisa Puaa (808-264-1151, lisa@dabarefootwarrior.com, West Side), Mana Moleta (808-283-6625, managirljewelry@gmail.com, Kahului), or Stacey Baraoidan (808-250-2596, sbaraoidian@gmail.com, Kahului, Wailuku, Upcountry, and South Maui areas) to arrange pick-up.

The club is hoping to pass out approximately 600 Blessings Bags, and they ask that our community and area businesses contribute to this wonderful cause and help people during these unfortunate times.

Lahaina’s Mauna Kahalawai Lions Club is also known for conducting vision screenings to raise awareness of eye disease, which works toward the Lions’ mission of providing vision for all. All Lions Clubs of Maui, including Lahaina’s club, meet the needs of local communities one city and town at a time. They share a core belief: to serve their community.

Lions Club International was founded in 1917. The Mauna Kahalawai Lions Club was formed in 2016.

Lions Clubs of Maui are best known for fighting blindness, but they volunteer for many different kinds of community projects, including feeding the hungry, aiding seniors and caring for the environment. Lions Clubs of Maui conduct vision and hearing screenings at Maui County schools throughout the year.

The Lions Clubs of Maui started with the charter of The Maui Lions Club 85 years ago. There are four Maui clubs.

Lahaina’s Mauna Kahalawai Lions Club is also looking for community-minded members. The club currently meets once a month via hybrid in-person/virtual meetings on the third Tuesday of each month beginning at 7 p.m.

If you have interest in attending a virtual meeting, becoming a member or to donate items for the Blessings Bags, contact Lisa Puaa at (808) 264-1151 or lisa@dabarefootwarrior.com.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.

Since 1917, Lions Clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the website at www.lionsclubs.org.