Back - to - school shopping is a giving business . According tothe Huntington Bank Backpack Index — a collaboration between Huntington Bank andCommunities in Schools — the intermediate cost of supplies for an elementary school scholarly person in 2017 is a astounding $ 662 . For midway school and gamy school , it ’s $ 1001 and $ 1489 , respectively .
Seeing the struggle of the kids and families around her , Kaiya organize a one - day effect this summer where clothing and shoal supplies were provide to the less fortunate students on the island of Oahu , which , according toa census report , has a eminent denseness of both the state ’s wealthiest and wretched phratry .
“ Maybe it ’ll help them with their self - esteem and going back to schooltime , because it is a stressful part of going back to school , ” Kaiya toldHawaii Public Radio .
Kaiya ’s big admirer is her mother , Heather , who helped organise the August clothing drive .
“ What Kai is doing is a veridical intake to a lot of other kids , ” Heather told HPR . “ I think at their age , a lot of them are depend for something to do that ’s outreach in their community but they do n’t needfully love where to go or what they ’re capable of . ”
In the lead - up to the group ’s first clothing driveway , more than 1500 hammer of dress and flock of school necessities like binders , pens , notebooks , and highlighter were garner . The mathematical group also set up aGoFundMe page , which raised more than $ 1800 — well over the initial $ 1000 goal .
The governance ’s first pop - up event was held on August 25 , where scholarly person and contend family line were able to catch five pieces of clothing after read a valid school I.D. and paying a $ 2 cover charge . In gain , the first 60attendees were given a new bookbag full of schooltime supply , which were made potential through the biotic community ’s donations .
