Story – Kumu’s Cupboard
We wanted to share the story of Kumu’s Cupboard and the ways they are serving the community during this time. Elyse Litvack, President of Kumu’s Cupboard shared the following information about the resources Kumu’s Cupboard has available to serve the teachers and students of Kauai.
Kumu’s Cupboard, Kauai’s store where our island educators shop at NO cost for supplies for their classrooms, is open to serve our educators. Besides supplies, we provide evidence that our community supports our educators and all they are doing to for our keiki during these unusual and trying times. Kauai’s public, private and charter school K-12 educators can shop with us once per month for school and office supplies, as well as science, mathematics, literacy, and health items. We also provide teacher resources, student incentives and books. The educator’s bill at checkout is always $0.00. Teachers nationwide spend their own funds for classroom supplies. In Hawaii the average non-reimbursed expenditure is $561. Kumu’s Cupboard’s goal is to lessen this burden. With the current economic situation, more students are and will be in need of supplies. Educators often provide for their students who don’t have. Kumu’s Cupboard has filled backpacks that the teachers can access for students without supplies. Kauai has educators working with students face-to-face, completely virtually and in hybrid models. The needs of these educators thus vary. We are trying to provide special supplies to help educators in all these models. We have stocked special items requested by educators to help them better serve their students. This includes such items as PPE and communicator masks. Through a grant we are also able to provide sets of whiteboards or clipboards to help with both distance learning and social distancing. Kumu’s Cupboard is an all-volunteer community supported 501(c)(3).
Educators interested in learning more about Kumu’s Cupboard and community members interested in donating can reach Kumu’s Cupboard by email at kumusupboard@gmail.com or by calling 808-639-4675. More information is also available on their website: kumuscupboard.org.
Kumu’s Cupboard is located in the Kukui Grove Marketplace in the old Payless Shoe Store (near the old Kmart store). The hours are:
- Tuesdays: 3:30 – 7:00
- Fridays: 3:30 – 7:00
- Saturdays: 10:00 – 3:00
- Sundays: 1:00 – 4:00