HCAP Weekly April 27, 2015

In this week’s issue:

Ohana Produce – Not Just Food Distribution
Na Lima Hana- Employment Core Services Helps Single Parent Obtain Employment
Meet Tiana, a Practicum Student Working with the Youth Services Program
LIHEAP Client Sends Thank You Letter to Central District Service Center
Head Start Students Learn About Physical Limitations
Hā Initiative Students Use STEM Skills to Study Insects

Ohana Produce – Not Just Food Distribution

At the Leeward District Service Center, Ohana Produce is not just an invaluable food distribution venue. Ohana Produce is also a venue for other agencies along the Leeward Coast to participate and provide access to a variety services in the community to HCAP clients. Organizations, such as the Waianae Comprehensive Community Health Center (WCCHC), Ke Ola Mamo, Pacific Health Nurses, Hawaii Literacy, and Hawaii Pacific University, understand that clientele from the Leeward Coast consist of individuals and families who are homeless (sheltered and unsheltered), low-income, seniors, and come from as far away as Kapolei. They continually provide our clients with information to educate them on health insurance benefits, exercise opportunities, dental work, blood pressure screenings, literacy, and wound care. Now, thanks to a permanent partnership with Hawaii Literacy, an Ohana Produce participating organization, Program Manager Darci Walker will be at the Leeward District Service Center every Tuesday to meet with clients and potential applicants to discuss the program.

Ohana Produce food distribution is held twice every month at the Leeward District Service Center; for months with five weeks, distribution is three times a month. Organizations participating in Ohana Produce must bring their own tent and tables, and be able to provide a snack to interested clientele.

For more information about Ohana Produce, please contact the nearest participating District Service Center:

Central – 488 6834
Kalihi-Palama – 847-0804
Leeward – 696-4261
Windward – 239-5754

Na Lima Hana- Employment Core Services Helps Single Parent Obtain Employment

Jamille has been a client at the Windward District Service Center since December 2014 when she enrolled in the Na Lima Hana-Employment Core Services Program (ECS). Jamille is a single mother of two who was in desperate need for assistance in obtaining employment. She had been out of the job market for many years, and did not know where to begin in finding a job. HCAP’s Windward District Service Center was able to help Jamille refresh her job skills through the ECS job preparation training and provide her with other wrap around services such as food assistance and a referral to Helping Hands Hawaii’s Clearinghouse for furniture and clothing for her kids. The ECS program also assisted Jamille with work attire once she secured employment with C & J Telecommunications as a call center agent. Jamille is currently employed and working toward reaching the milestone of maintaining employment for 90 days.

Meet Tiana, a Practicum Student Working with the Youth Services Program

Tiana is one of three HCAP Youth Services Practicum students. She is from Kaneohe and is currently a student at the University of Hawaii in the Social Work program, expecting to graduate in Spring 2016. Tiana stated, “I got into social work because I believe that a positive role model in the adolescent years are crucial in becoming successful. I like working for HCAP because I enjoy the working with the Youth Services staff and I believe in the mission.” Tiana assists the Youth Services program by tutoring students in math and reading, assisting in the C-Base classroom, doing case management, and performing other clerical duties.

LIHEAP Client Sends Thank You Letter to Central District Service Center

Kealalei and her husband recently received energy assistance though the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Emergency Crisis Intervention (ECI) through the Central District Service Center. She sent a Thank You letter to the staff, which is shown below.

Dear Ms. Katy Perry (Central District Service Center Community Services Manager),

We would like to sincerely express our appreciation for the prompt, effective and exceptional assistance that both you and Fai gave to us. If it weren’t for your efforts, we would have suffered great hardships with the termination of our electricity. It would have been even more difficult with my husband Sheldon’s medical challenges and disabilities.

I was so distraught and your compassion and diligence enabled us to continue pursuing all the challenges we face ahead with regard to Sheldon’s considerable medical needs. We are so thankful to you both for doing much to assist us and assessing the funds to ensure there were no disruptions in our electricity. Thank you ladies for having the compassion and professionalism to expedite all matters.

We believe you are both exceptional and hope that you will direct this to your superiors as our sincerest gratitude for your remarkable and excellent assistance.

Sincerest Aloha & appreciation,
Sheldon & Kealalei

Head Start Students Learn About Physical Limitations

The Jefferson II Head Start children had an opportunity to use their senses and learn about some of the challenges faced when a particular sense is impaired. Department of Education Vision Specialist provided both a presentation and activities for children to gain an awareness of what it is like to be visually impaired. It is activities such as these that help young children to gain a better awareness of physical challenges as well as build positive friendships and social empathy.

Hā Initiative Students Use STEM Skills to Study Insects

“Kidzscience” continues to engage the students at the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program, Central STEM Exploration Center. The curriculum is interesting and the activities are eye opening for both students and the teacher. This week they looked around the STEM Center for different habitats that play host to a great assortment of animal life. Specifically, they have been observing the great variety of insects around the Central District Service Center. Aside from ants and ladybugs, the class discovered a number of insects that they could not identify.

The class set out in pairs, with “shake boxes” to collect samples of insect life. One partner would shake the braches of a bush vigorously, while the other held the “shake box” under said branches to catch any insect life that fell out of the bush. Once in the boxes, the other partner tipped the box towards its open end so that the bugs could slide into the plastic bag tapped around the open end. Once the samples were collected, the children returned to the classroom with their insects and used magnifying glasses to observe the organisms they captured.

After their observations, it was then, that the children took to the computers to research the bugs they discovered, but could not identify. They spent the first part of the period looking for their bug samples online. They were able to find and identify some bugs, however some of the insects’ identities eluded the students. It has been a fascinating week for the students.