Local Merchants Help Pearl City Schools Stretch Their Budgets

Manana Elementary School principal Bryan Loo (center) gladly accepts gift certificates from Sheri Rolf (left) and Shawn Taniguchi of Pearl City Shopping Center Merchants Association earlier this month. Photo by Barry Villamil.

Pearl City Shopping Center Merchants Association has presented its second donation to an area elementary school.

This time, Manana Elementary School was the lucky recipient, and PCSC brought the donation during a “welcome back” ceremony held Sept. 11 in the school cafeteria.

The donation was comprised of ten $100 donations that are redeemable from various center merchants.

“We are always very, very fortunate to have the shopping center, the merchants, and partners support the school,” said Manana principal Bryan Loo.

“These funds can be used to purchase things that we cannot buy with state-allocated funds. Any help we can get, we appreciate, and in return we hope to support our community as well.”

Each year, PCSC grants gift certificates to two schools in the Pearl City complex. PCSC explained that the funds typically go toward expenses that include school supplies, computers and sports equipment. The program was created as a way for PCSC to directly help area schools.

This year’s first donation was made to Momilani Elementary School last month.