APRIL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 11:30 AM

Old Spaghetti Factory Restaurant | Honolulu, HI

April 2025 Newsletter

Assistance League of Hawaii is participating in the 2025 Visitor Industry Charity Walk, starting at Magic Island on Saturday, May 3. Scan the QR code or click on the graphic above to go to the Charity Walk Donation Page for Assistance League of Hawaii. Read about it all in the Resource Development article below.

April Will Be Amazing!

First of all, I would like to thank our members who volunteered their homes for our Evaluation and Strategic Planning Meetings on March 12 They were:

Honolulu: Ellen Dihel

Waikiki: Arden Moore

Leeward: Hazel Sumile

Hawaii Kai: Laurelyn Berger

Windward: Jane Winslow

From the minutes of the meetings, I can see that they were attended by many caring members who contributed thoughtful ideas to guide the Board and our chapter for the coming year. A summary of the group discussions will be forthcoming.

Every year we invite members and their friends and families to sponsor walkers or sign up to walk in the Visitor Industry Charity Walk. Please look at the article below to see how easy it is to sign up or sponsor a walker. Our chapter receives money back from this fundraiser, so the more we participate, the more we receive.

Please sign up for our lunch on April 9th at the Spaghetti Factory. We are hoping to invite our Education advisor, Heidi Armstrong from the Hawaii State Department of Education to celebrate our partnership and learn more about how we can help those most needy in school. Details are in the Hospitality article below.

Lastly, Assistance League of Hawaii would not exist without all of you. By choosing to do those volunteer hours, you have proven that your time and talents are priceless. You are all simply amazing!!!!

April Meeting at Old Spaghetti Factory

Warm Greetings, Assistance League of Hawaii Members. The April Membership Meeting will be held on April 9, at the Old Spaghetti Factory at the Aloha Tower Marketplace at 11:30 am. We will be allowed to enter no earlier than 11:00.

Please select one of the pastas from the menu choices below:

• • The Manager’s Special-Marinara Sauce and Mizithra
• Cheese & Browned Butter Combo
• • White Clam Sauce
• • Rich Meat Sauce

All meals come with the following: Iced Tea, Caesar Salad/Dressing and Dessert-Spumoni Ice Cream.

The cost, including tax and tip, is $30.00.

The paid parking lot is across from the restaurant.

PLEASE RSVP NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, APRIL 4.

Email your RSVP to althrift281@gmail.com.

Below is the Slate of Candidates for the 2025-2026 Assistance League of Hawaii Board of Directors. Assistance League of Hawaii Members will vote on the Slate at the April 9 Membership Meeting. The new Officers and Chairs will then be installed at the May 14 Membership Meeting.

Elected Officers:

President – Gloria McGehee-Koel

President-Elect – Linda McColgan

Vice President / Membership – Helen Taufa’asau

Secretary – Allison Shinn-Yuen

Treasurer – Linda Tsark

Elective Standing Committee Chairs:

Education – Trish Kiladis

Finance – Andrea Cyriacks

Marketing / Communications – Linda McColgan

Resource Development – Mary Li

Philanthropic Programs – Hazel Sumile

Strategic Planning – Cathy Kissel

Thrift Shop – Nancy Sparacino

Thanks to the Nominating Committee members for their time and talents at securing the Slate of Candidates: Laurelyn Berger, Linda McColgan, Lorna Motas, Nancy Sparacino, Linda Tsark, Alternate-Andrea Cyriacks, Alternate-Betty Parinas

Spotlighting Our Amazing

Member and Community Volunteers

STAR VOLUNTEER FOR

MONTH OF FEBRUARY



We have many wonderful volunteers who are doing so much to help Assistance League Hawaii achieve its goal to help Hawaii's keiki and families. It is a big task to recognize only one person as a Star each month, but Lorna Motas stands out because she has only been a member since July 2024, and since then, she has really stepped up and stands out for her contributions to many of our programs.

Lorna is an active member of various committees, including Resource Development, Membership and Hospitality. She recently served on the Nominating Committee and helped prepare the new slate of officers for the coming year.

She has volunteered for many of our projects and events, including Operation School Bell's in-store shopping events, and she has responded to requests from Domestic Violence Action Center by purchasing and delivering requested items.

Lorna is also a regular Rover on Saturday mornings at our Thrift Shop downstairs, and she spends time working upstairs. Recently, she took on the role of mentor! Although she is a relatively new member, she has a lot of wisdom and enthusiasm to share with our new members. CONGRATULATIONS Lorna - well-deserved!

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

- ALWAYS WELCOME AND ALWAYS NEEDED!

We have two new community volunteers who have joined us and will be working upstairs at our Thrift Shop.

Wendy Kubota, who contacted us via our website, and Beth Miura, who was referred to us by the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP). We have already seen Wendy's smiling face and her "can do" attitude helping to sort, price and get our numerous donations out on the floor to sell. Beth spends her time between Kauai and Oahu, but when she is on Oahu, she is looking forward to helping upstairs also. 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Meet our newest member - Carla Joaquin! She was referred to us by one of our newer members, Mariann Tesauro. Carla lives in Waimanalo and volunteers as an exercise instructor at the YMCA in Kailua. She enjoys the outdoors and hiking. Carla is interested in working on various special events and projects as they come up. For example, she heard from Mariann about the recent efforts to pack up dishes and household goods that were in a home for sale in Kahala. She is looking forward to helping whenever and wherever possible.

WELCOME CARLA!

Cathie Valdovino is a late addition to our new member roster. Details about her membership will be in next month’s newsletter.

We are asking all members to continue to spread the word about us! Our members are the best source of new referrals - we all know how special Assistance League of Hawaii is and how much we contribute to the needs of our keiki and community. 



We now have a ½ page handout that we are giving to customers in our shop who seem interested in joining Assistance League of Hawaii. It is always good to share information about us. And it never hurts to ask!

Membership Dues Reduced This Year

This Fiscal Year 2024-2025 is quickly coming to an end and the new Fiscal Year 2025-2026 will be starting on June 1st..

Just wanted to let you know that the Assistance League of Hawaii Board has approved a reduction in membership dues for the new Fiscal Year. Dues for FY 2025-2026 will only be $60.00/yr.

Starting at the April meeting, I will begin collecting dues at $60/yr from each member. Please bring cash or a check written out to Assistance League of Hawaii. If you use a check please write Dues 2025-2026 on the Memo line. If you don’t make the meeting, you can bring cash or check to the Thrift Shop. If I’m not there, please write your name on a piece of paper, clip it to your cash and put it in the Dues envelope in the mail folder for the Treasurer. If you have written a check, just put it in the Dues envelope in my folder. If you can’t come to a meeting or to the Thrift Shop, mail your check to:

Assistance League of Hawaii

1505 Young St.

Honolulu, HI 96826

Attn: Treasurer



Strategic Planning Meetings

Allow Us To Chart Our Path

A special Mahalo to our members who participated in our 2025 Evaluation Meetings on March 12th. Our hostesses generously welcomed us into their homes, enabling us to relax in small groups and focus on the questionnaires.

Together we heard stories of our successes and had an opportunity for fruitful discussions. These suggestions, ideas and responses will be summarized and presented at our April meeting.

Assistance League of Hawaii members who met in Waikiki for one of last month's Strategic Planning sessions.

OWL Wrapping Up the School Year

Operation Wildlife (OWL) members have been hard at work doing school visits just about every Monday and Friday as long as the schools are open. All neighbor island visits are done and we now have just 2 schools left for the year. We will be at Palisades Elementary School on Monday April 7, after visiting the last school for March out in Waimanalo. The April 7 visit will conclude the schedule for this school year. 

If you would like to come see what OWL is all about, come join us at Palisdades Elementary School! We'd love to introduce you to OWL!



Island Slipper Shares Footwear

SHARE Partners are excited to be looking for a donation from Island Slipper that will include their high end leather sandals and slippers, everyday walk around rubber “slippas,” and now some beach tote bags and beach hats.

They are going through inventory from several large store returns and we should get a call from them within a few weeks. Marty Kehoe will pick them up and bring them to the Assistance League of Hawaii Thrift Shop.

Island Slipper is a very well known brand in Hawaii since 1946, and we appreciate our relationship with them. Previously we have set up a separate display with their products and logo. They sell very well.

We Care Volunteers Distribute Malama Bears, Lullaby Layettes and More

We Care was busy in March fulfilling essential needs requested by our non-profit partners serving children, young adults and families in need.

Linda McColgan started the month by hosting a Lullaby Layette packing party at her home. 190 layettes were assembled and delivered to Kaiser and Kapiolani Hospitals and Waikiki Health.

Helen Taufa'asau and Linda Tsark delivered Malama Bears to Shriners and Queen’s Hospital.

Sandy Tamashiro made her monthly trek out to the Ho’omalu Emergency Shelter in Waianae and was greeted by lots of smiling faces when she delivered fresh meats, cheese, luncheon meats, snacks, shampoo, conditioner and household cleaning products. Sandy says it is always so gratifying how appreciative the staff and children are to receive donations from Assistance League.

Kinai ‘Eha had new residents in March that needed work clothes so they could start their apprenticeship or work programs. Dianne Girard met that need by purchasing 10 pairs of work pants and 10 sets of work boots. These young adults are now ready to be productive citizens.

Shriners Hospital needed toothbrushes and toothpaste, toys for their treasure chest and activity kits, which Helen Taufa'asau gladly purchased and delivered.

Lorna Motas purchased laundry detergent, toilet paper, dish soap, shampoo & conditioner, paper plates and plastic utensils that were needed by the residents at the DVAC shelter.

Outreach Provides One-Time Emergency Services For Those in Tremendous Need

Sixty 12 oz. insulated water bottles and fifty backpacks for elementary school boys and girls were purchased for Hilo Union Elementary School.

We are awaiting an order to purchase sports equipment for Princess Nahienaena and school supplies for King Kamehameha III Elementary Schools on Maui, which were affected by the Wildfire.

If anyone has any ideas of helping youngsters, please contact Miho Teipel at alohabutterfly888@gmail.com or call me at (808)342-9151.

OSB Sends Kokua Box to Maui’s

Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena Elementary School

Operation School Bell (OSB) sent a Kokua box to Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena Elementary School in Lahaina on the island of Maui. OSB is almost finished with t-shirt orders and will be having a meeting in early April to discuss next year’s plans for the program.

Volunteers Keep Our Thrift Shop Fully Stocked and Ready for Thankful Shoppers

Besides our wonderful and dedicated Assistance League of Hawaii Members, we also have some fabulous Community Volunteers, who show up at the Thrift Shop week after week to do whatever needs to be done.

Erika Lindenberger comes in every Thursday to sort through and hang scarves, among other things. Shirley Leung comes in on most Saturday mornings to help with pricing linens, hanging clothing, and whatever else needs to be done. Carol Bourgeois comes in every Thursday and Saturday, going through the donation bins and displaying merchandise downstairs. Their contributions of time are so valuable to us.

Sometimes folks who start out as Community Volunteers eventually become full-fledged Members, such as Olivia Yule and Bobby Black. You may want to mention to your friends or acquaintances that they can become Community Volunteers, if they aren’t quite ready to make the membership commitment. It is a great way for folks to get an introduction to the great work we do and find out that you can have fun and do good simultaneously.

In the category of Community Volunteers, we can’t forget our wonderful student volunteers from Farrington High School. On March 8, we had close to 30 students from the Farrington HS Community Service Committee. They helped Linda McColgan to pack many bags of Lullaby Layettes. Then they priced tote bags, sunglasses, backpacks, wallets, dishes, and anything else that didn’t move. After closing, they replenished all the clothing downstairs. Many thanks to these energetic and giving students.

Mahalo for volunteering at Assistance League of Hawaii!

April 2025 Thrift Shop

Calendar for Cashiers & Rovers

Thrift Shop Days & Hours:

Tuesday & Thursdays 9:30 am to 1:00 pm

Saturdays 9:30 am to 3:00 pm

Login to our Members Page on the website to view another copy of the current Thrift Shop Calendar.

Submit Your Service Hours

Turn in your monthly service hours to: alhservicehours@gmail.com Enter your first name, last name and the hours you worked (please do not enter any text – just numerical hours).

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