Tea Room Mixes Chamber Cheer With Marines’ Toy Drive

Kailua Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Mixer Dec. 12 at A Cup of Tea also collected items for the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots. Showing off some donations at the event are (from left) Corp. David Win-ship, Darlene Pahed, Puna Nam, Linda Goldstein and Corp. John Cool. Photo from Jay Pahed.

Toys and tea were the highlight of the Kailua Chamber of Commerce holiday mixer Dec. 12, when members and guests gathered at A Cup of Tea A Victorian Tea Room and Boutique.

The tea room, owned by Darlene Pahed, has been collecting toys since early November, and also donated 25 percent of its sales proceeds at several Scones & Tea evenings in October to the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program, which gives them to needy children in the Islands.

“Toys for children in Hawaii is close to my husband Jay’s heart,” said Pahed, “and when growing up he did not have the benefit of having many toys himself.”

The public drive continues at the tea room through Dec. 24, but many items also were presented Dec. 12 to Marine representatives Corps. David Winship and John Cool.

The tea room – cited for Best Kailua Kine Christmas Decorations for 2013 by the KCOC -is located at 407 Uluniu St., Suite 101. As far as adult toys go, the next Bingo Night is 6 p.m. Jan. 11. For details, call 230-8832.