HCAP Weekly December 26, 2016

In this week’s issue:

Mahalo to the Alaska Airlines Foundation!
Hale Kākou Program Helps Family Move into Permanent Housing
Determined SCSEP Participant Reaches Personal Goal
Kupuna Enjoy Last Session of the Fall 2016 Series
“M” is for Moustache

Mahalo to the Alaska Airlines Foundation!

A huge MAHALO to the Alaska Airlines Foundation for supporting the HCAP Youth Services program with a grant award. The grant will be used to provide at-risk youth with bus passes, interview clothing, school supplies, and other necessary items to help them successfully graduate and obtain employment. Very special thanks to Tim Thompson, Manager, Public Affairs-Alaska and Daniel Chun, Regional Manager, Sales & Community Marketing for visiting us in person to present Youth Services with the check. It was a great opportunity to learn about each other and to establish an exciting new partnership!

Hale Kākou Program Helps Family Move into Permanent Housing

Deidra is a single mother of a 16 year old son who moved to Hawaii from South Carolina at the end of August. Deidra began looking for work before she moved to Hawaii and had an interview scheduled with the Department of Education to work as an Administrative Clerk before she even set foot on the island. Confident in her ability to get the job, Deidra and her son were able to temporarily move in with her daughter and son-in-law on Kaneohe Marine Base. Deidra was quickly offered the job, but could not start working until a background check was complete.

At the end of November, Deidra came into the Windward District Service Center for help. Military regulations stated that she could no longer stay with her daughter and son-in-law on base but her background check was still not complete. She had no income to pay for another place to live, but staying with her daughter would jeopardize their stability. Staff referred her to several shelters, and she and her son moved into the Institute of Human Services. HCAP staff also assisted her with job leads and support services in case the school job did not work out. At the beginning of December, Deidra was finally able to start work. As soon as she had proof of income, staff encouraged her to look for a place to live. Challenging as it was, Deidra hustled after work each day to look at apartments that would be suitable for her and her son. In mid-December, Deidra found an apartment and she was able to apply for the Hale Kākou program to receive assistance in paying a deposit and first months rent. Today, Deidra and her son live in their new apartment in Kalihi, Deidra has steady employment, and they are looking forward to the New Year.

Determined SCSEP Participant Reaches Personal Goal

Tercy was referred to HCAP’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) by the Key Project in Kahaluu. At the age of fifty, she suffered a stroke and was deemed disabled. The following year, she lost her husband to a heart attack. Though physically limited, Tercy was determined to not be a burden to her adult children and their families, so she and wanted to go back to work. After an initial assessment, Tercy was found to be eligible for SCSEP and enrolled. Her first community service training assignment was a Program Aide at the Key Project. The following year, she was transferred to the Pauahi Recreation Site. In December, Tercy informed her SCSEP counselor that a former employer who was familiar with her limitations was hiring her as a full-time office clerk. Tercy is a very big inspiration and example to other seniors, showing that despite her illness and physical limitations, she was able to accomplish a goal that she was very determined to reach. Congratulations Tercy!

Kupuna Enjoy Last Session of the Fall 2016 Series

Last week, the Kupuna at Wisteria Vista completed their last session of the Kupuna Independent Life Series. Throughout the 13-week long series, the kupuna learned about various topics including Alzheimer’s, lung health, diabetes, hepatitis, and healthy eating. During their last session the kupuna enjoyed food, games, and holiday festivities.

One of the kupuna, Sili, enjoyed the sessions and shared that, “I learned a lot from coming to this program. And I think many of the things we learned are important especially for our age group.” Sili also shared that she is looking forward to the upcoming session in the Spring and will be recommending the program to her friends and relatives.

The Leahi District Service Center would like to thank the kupuna at Wisteria Vista and all of the community members who contributed to the program for a successful session.

“M” is for Moustache

The children at Wahiawa Head Start were so thrilled when one of the mommies made moustaches for each of them for the letter-of-the-week- which was “M.” The children played with them, laughed at themselves in the mirror, and even drew pictures in their journals of people with moustaches. The children bring something to class during the week that starts with the letter of the week. Parents and older siblings are even involved in collecting items. In the forefront of the photo are other items brought in for “M” week: Monster Inc. stuffed animals, macadamia nuts in a sealed bag, Mickey Mouse, Merendina name patch, motorcycle, empty medicine bottle, money and mushrooms.