HCAP Weekly December 21, 2015

In this week’s issue:

HCAP’s Partnership with Aerotek Helps Na Lima Hana Program Participant Gain Valuable Experience
Kumuhonua Resident Obtains Senior Housing Near his Family
Head Start Children Make Healthy Snowmen and Graham Cracker Houses
GO! READ Ohana100 Shares the Joy of Literacy with Head Start Children
HCAP Thanks Board Member Colleen Minami and Friends for Their Generosity
The Laulima Giving Program Brings Christmas Cheer to a HCAP Head Start Family

HCAP’s Partnership with Aerotek Helps Na Lima Hana Program Participant Gain Valuable Experience

Since entering the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program, Shane completed HCAP’s Job Readiness Training and created a resume that highlighted his professional skills and readiness to work. As a result, Shane was referred to Aerotek in late November, and has since been working in the technological and industrial field. He has been placed at Geotech doing core sampling and at AES Hawaii Power Plant cleaning silo tanks. In addition to gaining valuable work experience, Aerotek paid for Shane’s physical examination, and OSHA safety training.

Shane’s story is an example of the importance of HCAP’s partnership with Aerotek. This partnership has created great employment possibilities for Shane. Through this partnership, Aerotek will continue to provide HCAP with access to a wide variety of employers in need of employees.

Shane was an exemplary client of the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program, and HCAP would like to wish him continued success!

Kumuhonua Resident Obtains Senior Housing Near his Family

George came to the Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center after losing permanent housing. During his short time at Kumuhonua, George was always ahead of the requirements with his savings account and volunteering. He always went above and beyond for his community service assignment. This dedication and hard work paid off quickly. Within eight months of coming to Kumuhonua, George found permanent housing at a senior residence in Ewa Beach, where he is close to his son and grandchildren. Kumuhonua staff couldn’t be happier for George and wish him all the best!

Head Start Children Make Healthy Snowmen and Graham Cracker Houses

Recently, the Lanakila Elementary School Head Start classrooms hosted their Fatherhood event with Head Start children and their parents. First, HCAP Head Start staff taught the parents about healthy eating habits. Afterwards, parents and children participated in an activity. The activity was to make Snowmen and Graham Cracker Houses out of healthy foods. An important part of the activity was to teach the families how to work together and let the children learn about hand-eye coordination.

Listed below are the ingredients the parents and children used to make their Snowmen and Graham Cracker Houses.

Snowman Ingredients
• English Muffins: Body
• Blueberry: Eyes
• Cheerios/Kiks/Goldfish Crackers: Buttons
• Cream Cheese: Snow/ Frosting
• Carrots: Hands/Feet/Nose

Graham Cracker House Ingredients
• Graham Cracker: House
• Cream Cheese: Frosting
• Other Parts: Cheerios/Kiks/Goldfish Crackers/Carrots

GO! READ Ohana100 Shares the Joy of Literacy with Head Start Children

GO! READ Ohana100 is known for promoting literacy in local communities and spreading generosity. And as the end of the year approaches, Ohana100 continues sharing the joy of literacy with children on the Waianae coast. Last week, the children at Hale Wai Vista were surprised with several guest readers.

Ms. Catherine read “Olivia helps with Christmas” and Mrs. Patti read an exciting story called, “Just One More.” The children enjoyed listening to the story and were excited to receive a copy of “Olivia helps with Christmas.” In addition, Ohana100 also made special visits to Head Start Keiki Country I and II classrooms.

Mahalo to Mrs. Elizabeth, Ms. Iris, Mrs. Patti, and Ms. Catherine for sharing the joy of literacy to our keiki’s and instilling the slogan, “GO! READ” in their hearts.

HCAP Thanks Board Member Colleen Minami and Friends for Their Generosity

A very BIG MAHALO to Board Member Colleen Minami for her generosity and kindness this holiday season. Colleen Minami and her Ohana group presented the Youth Services C-Base students and twelve families of the HCAP Head Start Home-Base program with gift cards for Christmas. Both the students and families appreciated the gift and were touched by Ms. Minami’s kindness.

The Laulima Giving Program Brings Christmas Cheer to a HCAP Head Start Family

The Laulima Giving Program brings companies and individuals together to help needy families in Hawaii. This holiday season, the Laulima Giving Program selected one of HCAP’s Head Start families from the Wahiawa Pre-Plus classroom. The family was sponsored by the Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) Department at Queen’s Medical Center. The representatives from CORE met with Melanie, HCAP Head Start Family Advocate, to deliver gifts to the family’s home.

Janice and Virgil were gifted household items and a gift card to Tamura’s. Their children, Kaimana and Kainehe, were gifted clothes and toys. Their eldest son Joshua was gifted clothes and a bicycle. The family and representatives exchanged hugs and took photos. The family expressed their appreciation with a handmade “Thank You” card with pictures of the children inside. A huge mahalo to the sponsors from the CORE department at Queen’s Medical Center for their generous gifts and for making this Christmas special for the family.