Assistance League of Hawaii Regular Meeting and Luncheon

Wednesday, January 10, 2024 • Buca di Beppo

1030 Auahi Steet, Bay 1, Honolulu • Starts at 11:30 AM

January 2024 Newsletter

Resource Development Committee delivers party supplies to Youth Outreach: From Back Row, Right to Left: Diane Bowden-Coleman, Joyce Stevens, Alika Campbell. Front Row, Right to Left: Jacque Teller, Gloria McGehee-Koel, Carol Hasegawa. Details in the Resource Development article below.

Entering 2024 with

Renewed Resolve

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou to all! We enter 2024 with renewed resolve to help meet the needs of many in our community who can use a helping hand. There will be many opportunities this month and in the months ahead to assist with our programs. Please read the Philanthropic Programs article below for details. 

A huge mahalo to Laurelyn Berger for, once again, so graciously hosting our Christmas gathering at her home last month. The mood was festive and all the potluck dishes were delicious. 

We want to acknowledge a recent generous donation of 240 new in-flight blankets from Hawaiian Airlines. Special thanks to Hazel Sumile, who connected with Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, with Hawaiian Airlines, in arranging for this donation. Debbie personally delivered the 12 cases of blankets to our Thrift Shop. These blankets will be utilized by our programs and will be especially appreciated as the cooler winter weather sets in. 

We hope to see many of you at our Regular Membership Meeting and Luncheon on January 10 at Buca di Beppo Restaurant. (See details in the Hospitality article below.) We will be conducting important business at this meeting, including the vote to approve our 2024-2029 Five-Year Strategic Plan, and some proposed leadership changes.

Mahalo for all that you do. 

First Meeting of 2024 at Buca di Beppo

The Membership Meeting and lunch for ALH will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at Buca di Beppo / 1030 Auahi Street, Bay 1, Honolulu, HI 96814. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m.

Menu is Family Style and includes: Fresh-Baked House Bread, Mixed Green Salad, Caesar Salad, Fettuccine Alfredo, Baked Rigatoni, Chicken Parmigiana, Cheesecake for Dessert, Unlimited Coffee,Tea, and Soft Drinks.

Parking and map information will be sent before the meeting. The cost will be $33.00 per person. Payment by check or cash will be accepted at the door. Please RSVP to althrift281@gmail.com no later than Saturday, January 6. 

Budget Meeting on February 21

All Officers and Chairmen should review their current budget status and assess any needs for the coming fiscal year.

The Annual Finance Budget Meeting will be Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 9:30 am in the Ohana Room.

Voting for the Five-Year Strategic Plan

Voting at our January Membership Meeting will start us on the path of our 2024-2029 Five-Year Strategic Plan, guiding us to further the excellent work we have achieved with our programs.

We also look forward to March when, in lieu of our monthly luncheon, we have our popular Evaluation Meetings at members' homes. Thus far we have volunteer hostesses in the areas of Hawaii Kai, Pearl City/Iwilei and Waikiki/ Kahala.

We do you need a volunteer host or hostess in the Manoa/ Punchbowl/ Makiki area. From the members who attend, you appoint a notetaker and moderator to assist you. So please, if you are able to seat 8 to 10 people, do contact Cathy Kissel at (808) 392-1213 to volunteer or ask any questions you might have about this important role.

Philanthropic Programs Holding Steady and Gearing Up For More Involvement

Happy 2024! Philanthropic Programs continue to have lots of news to share about the great work being done to support our communities and keiki. As the New Year 2024 begins, we hope you will consider volunteering in one of these exciting programs as part of your New Year's Resolutions.

OPERATION SCHOOL BELL: Chair - Laurelyn Berger, Co-Chair - Andrea Cyriacks

Please save the date to work at Walmart on Ke'eaumoku St. for another shopping spree, with 150 kids from 3 worthy elementary schools (Likelike, Kalihi and Palolo). Time 8:30-11. Lunch together follows at Buca de Beppo. Be sure to sign up with Gerri Migita or Mary Monohon soon. 

We are still working on the Maui Relief project and will keep you all posted.

SHARE: Chair - Karen Kehoe. Co-Chair - Marty Kehoe

Donated books are being shared in our community! In December, Marty and Karen Kehoe and Mary Monohon attended a Habitat for Humanity house blessing in Waimanalo. Middle school girls from Malama Honua public school had built three neighborhood libraries, one of which is installed on this home's property. Assistance League of Hawaii provided the books for the library. 

Marty was able to deliver a large donation of fabrics ( thank you Hazel for gathering up the Waianae donation) to the sewing ladies at Kokua Kalihi Valley. 

What we don’t sell at the store makes a difference in our community!

WE CARE - Chair - Linda Tsark

Mary Kay Junk was gracious enough to put together extra Lullaby Layettes in December so Carol Jones could deliver them to Kapiolani Hospital, which needed more layettes than we were able to deliver in early November.

Linda McColgan purchased paper towels, toilet paper and Pull-ups, which happened to be on sale at Costco, so she bought extra, and delivered everything to the Domestic Violence Action Center.

Arminta Nishimura delivered one bag of Malama Bears to the United Church of Christ (UCC) Transition House. (A new agreement discussed below.)

We Care was able to finalize two new agreements in December: 1) Malama Bears for UCC Transition House, which houses victims of domestic violence and; 2) Welcome Kits for Kinai ‘Eha, which houses youth 14 to 24 years of age and provides needed counseling and skills training. A third agreement was also drafted in December with the Honolulu Emergency Management Services Department to provide Malama Bears for the EMS ambulances. We are waiting for the signed agreement to be returned.

A big Christmas delivery for Youth Outreach was made recently. Linda Tsark purchased 77 backpacks at a cost of $889.00 and The Resource Development team purchased food and many clothing items. (See Resource Development news regarding a breakdown of what was purchased and the final cost). Gloria Mc Gehee-Koel and Carol Hasegawa made the delivery and took photos.

OUTREACH: - Chair Miho Teipel

Although Outreach has spent over $11,000 to fulfill teachers' wishlists at King Kamehameha III Elementary School on Maui, Miho and her committee continue to work on efforts to determine continuing needs and how Outreach can support Maui through this "one-and-done" program.

Schools Keep OWL Volunteers Active

Operation Wildlife (OWL) has continued to be quite busy this fall. Thanks to recruiting efforts by Sheri Sunabe, we have a number of new schools this year wanting us to come visit! One was Mokapu Elementary this past November, and we presented to all the classes in grades 3, 4, and 5! It took some creative scheduling and a "double team" effort, and in spite of technical difficulties, we were able to pull it off! Yay, Team! 

We also visited Red Hill Elementary in mid-December, and were really impressed with the students as well as the teachers. They were enthusiastic learners who knew how to show respect, and they asked for permission to pick up the biofacts. Attentiveness to the video was excellent. And guess what; they already booked us for next school year! 

A team is complete for our visit to Hilo in January; we are also hoping to visit Kauai in February, Maui in April, and Molokai later in April. If you are interested in joining one of these teams, contact Hazel Sumile. We'd love to have you be part of the team. Happy 2024 from the OWL Volunteers!

We got this kudu horn (above left) from the BYU-Hawaii Museum of Natural History when they dismantled their collection this past fall. This horn has become one of the very popular biofacts the students love to touch. We always tell the kids to be sure to touch the Tiger (above right), so when their family asks, "What did you do in school today?", you know what to say!



Supporting Youth Outreach

Into the New Year

Above: Unloading the car - with Joyce Steven, Gloria McGehee-Koel, Carol Hasegawa (left frame). Holiday Party goods with Alika Campbell.

The Resource Development Committee, in partnership with the Philanthropic Programs, filled 77 backpacks and delivered the filled backpacks in time for Youth Outreach’s holiday party on December 11. Items included canned meats, fruits, and treats. Additionally, we purchased toiletries (toothbrush, travel-sized toothpaste, travel-sized deodorant, shampoo, travel-sized conditioner, and soap) and socks for young men and women.

The Resource Development Committee continues to collect donations to support Youth Outreach until January 15, 2024.

If you want to donate directly to Assistance League, please make a check payable to Assistance League of Hawaii and indicate “Change 4 Change- Youth Outreach” on the Memo Line. Mahalo to all members who continue donating directly to homeless youth.

Thrift Shop Open For Sales in 2024

Welcome everyone to 2024! Mahalo to everyone for making 2023 such a big success.

A special “Thank You” to Assistance League of Hawaii Superman Jim McClelland, who has gone way above and beyond his title of Property Manager. You have seen him as a janitor, repair man, dishwasher, silver polisher, electrician, donation sorter, poop scooper and assembly artist. When he sees Sharon Ehrhorn waiting for him at the front door, he is anticipating another crisis he may need to handle. Many “mahalos” to this special person.

After the store closed at 1:00 on Saturday, Dec.23, many volunteers came in to help with clearing the floors and getting organized. They included : Linda and Dean McColgan, Gail and Ernie Jensen and sister Karen, Ku’ulei Pai, Andrea Cyriacks, Ellen Dihel , Arden Moore, Sharon Ehrhorn, Olivia Yule and Margie Van Swearingen.

Anago Cleaning Systems worked at stripping and waxing our floors during the two days that the Thrift Shop was closed in late December. Owner Caroline Yamashita and her crew went above and beyond their normal procedures to accommodate our needs. Preparing for this event required a lot of planning and hard work. Thanks also to all the members who helped to reposition all the shelving and restock the merchandise after the job was done. Our Thrift Shop is sparkling!

At the end of December, the Thrift Shop had brought in $24,582 for the holiday season.

Your Service Hours

A big thank you for participating in recording your valuable volunteer hours in response to the email from alhservicehours. Another request for your December hours should be in your email inbox on January 1, 2024.

What about making it a New Year's resolution that you respond immediately when you get the email? Be proud of your hours! Remember we appreciate a response of "0" if you have not been able to volunteer. Mahalo!

January 2024 Thrift Shop

Cashiers' Calendar

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