MAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING LUNCHEON

Wednesday,May 8, 2024 • 11:00 A.M.

Outrigger Canoe Club, 2909 Kalakaua Ave. - Honolulu

May 2024 Newsletter

Don't miss our May Regular meeting. We take care of business and have fun at our meetings. Shown: Carol Hasegawa, Allison Shinn- Yuen, Hazel Sumile, Betty Parinas, Joy Corbett at our April meeting.

A Fiscal Year of Success and Growth

It hardly seems possible that we are coming to the close of our fiscal year. We have had such a successful year, serving more children and families than ever. 

Our programs have expanded to include new recipients. Our membership has increased and brought us several new active members. Our members have performed thousands of hours of service to our community. 

Our Marketing / Communications Committee has spread the word of Assistance League in new ways. Our Resource Development Committee has acquired new grants and donations. Our Thrift Shop, run by a dedicated and talented staff, has been incredibly busy and has generated more funds than ever. Our Strategic Planning Committee has developed a 5-Year Plan to carry us into 2029.

We have accomplished so much in just one year! None of this would be possible without all of you, our members. When I say “Mahalo for all that you do,” that is really an understatement. I am truly proud to be associated with such fine and giving people, united with the single purpose of helping others. 

Mahalo for ALL that you have done and continue to do.

Mahalo to all the members and friends who participated in our FIRST ANNUAL SPRING-CLEANING event for jewelry in April. The JEWELRY BOX overflowed with fine and costume jewelry, beautiful bracelets, sparkling rings, and necklaces. Special thanks to Ku'ulei Pai and the decorating team for creating a celebratory environment!

Parking Reimbursements and

Membership Dues

We are very close to the end of our fiscal year. It’s time for those who want to be reimbursed for parking to complete their Hourly Parking Log by the end of this month. Complete the form for January, February, March and April. I will collect the sheets from the notebook downstairs and the one upstairs on April 30, 2024. I would also like you to estimate the number of hours you anticipate working in May, so I can include those hours in this check. Remember parking reimbursement must be paid out by May 31, 2024 for the FY year 2023-2024.

Just wanted to remind everyone that dues are due by the end of May 2024 for next year. They are still $70. Please make checks payable to Assistance League of Hawaii or ALH and write “Dues for 2024-2025” on the memo line. You can also give $70 in cash, but make sure you put the cash in an envelope and write your name on it.

You can give dues to me at the May Membership Meeting, drop it off at the Thrift Shop at any time, or mail it to Assistance League of Hawaii, 1505 Young Street, Honolulu, HI 96826, ATTN: Andrea Cyriacks

Getting Started With Strategic Planning

The Strategic Planning Committee is searching for volunteers for our 2024-2025 committee.

What is the commitment?

• Four Strategic Planning meetings during our calendar year.
• Assist with our 2024/2025 Action Plan, using the results from evaluation meetings as guidance.
• Assist with planning our March 2025 evaluation meetings.

If you are interested in joining us please contact

CathyKissel@gmail.com or call or text her at 808-392-1213



Mahalo To Our Chairs And

Member Volunteers!

Operation School Bell's Literacy Services participants embrace reading books on all kinds of subjects.

Can you believe it is May already and almost the end of another year?!

A big mahalo to the Chairs of our Philanthropic Programs as well as their committee members who did an excellent job for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. And we would like to give an extra big mahalo to the volunteers who made it all happen! We couldn't have done it without your help. Our programs will continue their efforts during the coming summer months, so please continue to volunteer!!!

Operation School Bell:

Chair - Laurelyn Berger and Vice-Chair - Andrea Cyriacks

Kokua Clothing Boxes: Mary Monohon

Literary Services: Carol Hasegawa

Operation Wildlife: Hazel Sumile

Outreach: Miho Teipel

Share: Karen and Marty Kehoe

We Care: Linda Tsark

Operation School Bell is busy winding down for the end of this year and is working on refilling Kokua Clothing Boxes later this or next month. They are in the planning stages for exciting things to come next year that include the possibility of more in-store shopping events, ordering Kokua Clothing Boxes for next year and adding more to other schools in need. OSB is almost finished with shirt orders (just 3-4 left).

Operation Wildlife: See Hazel's separate article.

Outreach: In last month's newsletter, Miho wrote about the donated items to RYSE (Residential Youth Services & Empowerment). With this donation, Outreach has reached its budget goal for this fiscal year. Miho is still in communication with various resource folks on Maui to come up with the best plan for providing needed donations to Maui Relief. This will not end with the fiscal year, but will continue as Maui Relief money continues to be available.

Share: Marty and Karen Kehoe shared a wonderful summary of their volunteer work through our Share Program. The primary mission of Share is to help the keiki who are needy. They donate clothing, footwear, toys, games, school supplies, toiletries, and sports equipment. They still need more grooming and personal care items. 

Boys and Girls Club, Waianae Chapter. The Share program continues to make regular deliveries of clothing, games, toys, school supplies, sports equipment, and toiletries to the club.They have set up a "Bonus Room" that displays these items and the children place "value stickers" on the items that can be "earned" with credits for extra work, strong performance and other positive activities.

Family Programs Hawaii. This is a Federal program overseeing the Foster Care Program in Hawaii. They have a Safe House with beds for 15 kids between age 4-17. These kids are in a safe house for a short time while in-between placements with foster care homes. It is a special place and Share has donated clothing, games, toys, sports equipment and toiletries to their "closet". They recently donated blankets from Hawaiian Airlines to the Safe House and they were sincerely appreciated.

Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services. (Federal Housing) Share donates clothing, books, games, toys, toiletries and fabric for their "Sewing Sistahs” Club. The sewing club has recruited younger gals to learn the art of sewing and making clothing. The Health Center has quarterly "events" where they allow residents to take what they want from the warehouse of collected donations. Toys and games go quickly!

Helping Hands Hawaii. This is a charity that serves needy families. Eligible families can come in once a month and pick up "what they need". Share donates clothing, kitchen items and coffee mugs.

Lions Club #50. Share donates 80-100 pairs of RX glasses and sunglasses to Lions Club about 3 times a year. They refurbish and redistribute them worldwide for free.

Habitat for Humanity, Waimanalo. This is a new Share partner that has set up a number of "street side library boxes" in the community for books and Share donates a variety of books to them. This is a new program that should grow!

Share has formed very strong relationships with these partners. They appreciate and respect the services provided by Share.

We Care: We Care has been working hard to make sure we are using as much of our funds as possible to support our agency partners in meeting their needs in meaningful and useful ways.

On April 5, 2024, Arminta Nishimura and Sandy Tamashiro shopped for the Ho’omalu Emergency Shelter and delivered goods costing $1,180.21. Items purchased included non-perishable foods for their pantry, clothing (shorts & t-shirts), and hygiene items. The house manager told Arminta & Sandy they were especially grateful for the bags of rice as they had just run out. More shopping is planned in the near future by Minta and Sandy.

On April 10, 2024, Dianne Girard purchased and delivered Diapers, Shampoo and Conditioner to the Domestic Violence Action Center valued at $127.94.

On April 12, 2024, Dianne Girard also purchased and delivered 12 pairs of work pants and 11 pairs of work boots to the residents at Kinai 'Eha at a cost of $987.50.

On April 13, 2024, Pat Dixon purchased and delivered kitchen items and cleaning supplies valued at $246.59 for a young man aging out of foster care at Hale Kipa.

On April 25, 2024, Sandy Tamashiro and Armintra Nishimura went shopping for Keiki Care (Ho’omalu) foster care home. They spent $712.24 on various food items and household necessities such as toilet paper, paper towels, etc. As always, they are very appreciative of Assistance League’s support!

LITERACY SERVICES: The dedicated group of "Library Ladies" at Pu'uhale continue to provide literacy services to students of Pu'uhale Elementary School by reading books, storytelling, doing book talks, checking and shelving books for circulation, etc. Our newest reader, Jen Tuvold, (non-teacher) began reading to second grade students and enjoys this experience. 

After an excursion trip to the Pu'uhale Library, children in the HCAP Pre-School Program at the Pu'uhale site began weekly 30-minute visits to the library. Volunteers shared books, recited nursery rhymes and did movement activities with the children. 

It was a busy and enjoyable year!

-- Carol Hasegawa (Literacy Chair)

Member volunteer Jen Turvold reads to second grade students at Pu'uhale Elementary School.

Successful OWL Visits End the

2023-24 School Year

The final Neighbor Island Operation

Wildlife Team visited Molokai's four elementary schools on April 22 and 23, 2024. The island is called the Friendly Isle, and not for nothing, as they say! Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, maybe especially so when they saw these three strangers walking around their town all wearing matching shirts. Haha! We only realized we were matchy-matchy after we had about the 4th person ask us what we were there for. So, so funny!

Visiting the four schools was awe-inspiring. They are doing so much in small little towns and the level of dedication we saw on the staff at the schools was terrific. We were welcomed warmly no matter where we went, from the neighborhood store which stayed open a little late (after 12 noon on Sunday) so we could get our bottles of water, to the custodian who helped us with the bags and taking care of the cafeteria tables and even with hooking up our computer to their TV. We were just so impressed by all the people we met there.

We also experienced some "firsts" on this trip too. Jen Turvold opened and closed the sessions at two of the schools, and Ginger spoke about the Moana the Honu book at one school. Jen also has learned how to hook the computer to the TV, so she is good to go! Yay! 

Gratitude for Outreach Participation

Thank you to Committee Members Ginger Fujimoto, Cathy Kissel, Peggy Monell, Mary Monohan, Ku'ulei Pai, and Jane Winslow for serving on the Outreach Committee this year.

In summary of our 2023-2024 year, we were able to provide almost $11,000 worth of school items for 17 teachers of King Kamehameha III Elementary School whose school burned down in the Lahaina Wildfire.

Outreach also provided many household items for RYSE, (Residential Youth Services and Empowerment) with a location in Kailua and a new location in Waianae. RYSE has a youth access center and safe temporary housing for youths 14-24 and helps them reintegrate into mainstream society by offering varying programs.

Radio Ads & Social Media Bring

in New Volunteers

Hopefully you have heard us on the radio.

Assistance League of Hawaii was highlighted in the month of April on KINE 105.1 FM, on POWER 104.3, and an interview with Mary Monohon and Gerri Migita. These ads highlighted shopping at our Thrift Shop and the Bid Box, Requesting Volunteers and highlighting our philanthropic services. 

The marketing committee will meet in May to discuss additional radio ads.

April was National Volunteer month. An emphasis on our social media was thanking each of YOU for your service and also recruiting more volunteers. Our outreach seems to be working as we are getting volunteer form replies in recent weeks.

Behind the Scenes with our Member Volunteers

You may not have met Sandra Nada as she only works her magic on Saturdays.You do see the results of her creativity when you look at the yarn, fabric and crafts section in the shop.

When Sandra joined in 2017 Nancy Sparacino asked her if she knew anything about crafts. Well…..her background includes all kinds of crafts: sewing, knitting, crocheting, clay-making, cross-stitching, pottery making, rubber stamping and making special hand-made greeting cards!!!!! She has participated in many craft fairs. Nancy was impressed and Sandra has been hard at work ever since. She sends out birthday cards to members and has attended OSB in-store shopping events at Walmart.

After retiring from Hawaiian Electric in 2020, Sandra now works for the Tax and Charities Division of the Department of the Attorney General. She has been impressed with our service programs. We are very fortunate to have her spend her free Saturdays working magic at our shop.

UPSTAIRS…DOWNSTAIRS

Three of our members recently decided to switch their “jobs” from upstairs to downstairs for a few hours – just to experience what it was like. If you might be interested in doing this, just let Peggy Monell know. It’s helpful for us to know how things work both up and down. 

A SPECIAL THANKS TO

NANCY SPARACINO

She may have been the President of Assistance League of Hawaii but she was usually found behind the register downstairs or organizing things upstairs in the Thrift Shop. She is also the "mystery writer" of the clever captions describing our Bid-Box items in the email ads. We are sure that whatever post she assumes, we can count on her continued help.

May 2024 Thrift Shop

Cashiers’ 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).

If you have any questions please respond to the email from alhservicehours@gmail.com or email Linda McColgan at linda.mccolgan@hotmail.com.

We are looking for someone to help with the recording of these hours. Most of the members now respond to the email and only a few minutes are needed to collect the remaining hours. Please let Linda know if you are willing to help with this. Mahalo!

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