HCAP Weekly December 16, 2019

Head Start Family Receives Adopt A Family Gifts
HCAP July – September 2019 Quarterly Newsletter
Hā Initiative Hosts Family Nights
SCSEP Participant Benefits from Dress for Success Partnership
Windward District Service Center Concludes Fall Session of Kupuna Independent Life Series

Head Start Family Receives Adopt A Family Gifts

Through an in-house partnership with Leahi District Service Center, HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start’s ERSEA/Family Advocate Raven had been visiting the Leahi District Service Center and enrolling children and their families into the Head Start program. After completing Head Start registration, Leahi District Service Center staff asked Phuoc, a Head Start parent, if his family was interested in applying for Adopt A Family.

Phuoc was happy to do so and even happier when Leahi District Service Center staff contacted him to let him know that First Hawaiian Bank has adopted his family. This week, Leahi District Service Center staff met up with Phuoc and his family at First Hawaiian Bank’s Main Branch in Downtown Honolulu to pick up their gifts.

To his amazement, Phuoc and his family were blessed with more than what they thought they were going to receive. Phuoc and his family received a Foodland Holiday Dinner, as well as other gift cards for food and household necessities. Phuoc was filled with gratitude and kept thanking Leahi District Service Center staff for their assistance. Even though Leahi District Service Center staff were just doing their jobs, they felt blessed that they were able to provide his family with this wonderful opportunity.

HCAP July – September 2019 Quarterly Newsletter

We’re excited to share the July – September 2019 issue of Ku`i Na Lono: Spread the News. Featuring these stories and more:
• Kumuhonua Resident Moves into Permanent Housing
• Families Receive Free School Supplies
• STEM Students Take Field Trip to Kualoa Ranch Education Center
• WAP Client Receives New Solar Water Heater and Energy Star Refrigerator

Download the July – September 2019 Quarterly here.
View past Quarterly Newsletters here.

Hā Initiative Hosts Family Nights

This week at the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program, a 21st Century Community Learning Center, all five STEM Exploration Centers held their second “Family Nights” of the 2019-2020 school year. Family Nights is an opportunity for parents and guardians to come in and see what the students have been working on over the past few weeks.

Between the five STEM Exploration Centers, the students had several things to show their families. The students who participated in the FIRST LEGO League Tournament and FIRST LEGO League Jr. Expo presented their projects and robots to everyone. In some STEM Exploration Centers, the students gathered leaves to press and laminate, so that they could make a dichotomous key with their family. The dichotomous key will help the students and their families to learn how to identify unknown flora and fauna.

After the presentations and activities, everyone had dinner together and enjoyed each other’s company. Family Nights offered Hā Initiative staff a wonderful opportunity to connect with families and students.

SCSEP Participant Benefits from Dress for Success Partnership

Jolinda has been a Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) participant since April 2019. As an Office Clerk Trainee at the HCAP Corporate Office, Jolinda works in the Fiscal Department. However, the Fiscal Department is not the only place you will see her. When you visit the HCAP Corporate Office, you may just see Jolinda at the front reception desk with her constant smile. Jolinda has learned how important it is to be flexible with work responsibilities in an office setting.

This fall, SCSEP staff referred Jolinda to Dress for Success, a partnership that SCSEP has recently re-established, which provides the female participants in SCSEP the opportunity to attend workshops and receive work clothes and accessories. Jolinda’s self-esteem has blossomed and she enjoys the opportunities of going to Dress for Success and coming to her training site. This week, Jolinda completed her workshops with Dress for Success. Congratulations Jolinda!

Windward District Service Center Concludes Fall Session of Kupuna Independent Life Series

This week, HCAP’s Windward District Service Center finished up their last session of the fall for the Kupuna Independent Life Series program. Ke Ola Mamo staff led a workshop on arthritis, educating the kupuna about symptoms and different types of arthritis. For lunch, the kupuna decided to do a potluck, with everyone bringing their favorite dishes to share. The lunch table was decorated with handmade Hawaiian table settings. After lunch, Windward District Service Center staff dressed the kupuna in Hawaiian foliage, and they closed out the day with a special hula presentation.