HCAP Weekly November 26, 2018

Kalihi STEM Students Give Back to Teachers for #GivingTuesday
HCAP Head Start Children Participate in #GivingTuesday
Kalihi Kupuna Celebrate #GivingTuesday
Central District Service Center Receives Early Christmas Present
Windward District Service Center Partners with First Assembly of God

Kalihi STEM Students Give Back to Teachers for #GivingTuesday

For the past two weeks, the students the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After School Program’s Kalihi STEM Exploration Center, a 21st Century Community Learning Center, were hard at work on a #GivingTuesday project they made for their homeroom teachers at Ka’iulani Elementary School. After sanding a piece of milo wood until it was smooth, the students rubbed the milo wood with coconut oil, which gave it a nice dark shine. Finally, the students decorated their milo wood with shells, sea glass, coral, and air plants.

After putting the finishing touches on the milo wood, the students worked on a personalized picture frame. They made a Hawaiian designed picture frame out of stencil, had their pictures taken, and placed their photo in the DIY frame. The students completed their project with a thank you letter to their homeroom teachers. The teachers who received the milo wood and the picture frame on #GivingTuesday were deeply touched by the displays of gratitude and appreciation.

HCAP Head Start Children Participate in #GivingTuesday

For #GivingTuesday, HCAP Head Start children from various classrooms participated in a sock drive. Classroom teachers and children from various Head Start classrooms sent pairs of socks that were accompanied by #UNselfies and cards. All socks collected will be donated to individuals and families living in homeless shelters. A big mahalo to the following classrooms that participated: La’ie I & II Head Start, Makaha I Head Start, Pālolo II Head Start, Pōhākea Head Start, Ka’ala Elementary Pre-Plus Head Start, Kainalu Elementary Head Start, Enchanted Lake Head Start, Kaimiloa Elementary Head Start, Ka Pua II Head Start, and Kahalu’u Head Start.

Kalihi Kupuna Celebrate #GivingTuesday

The kupuna have been enjoying various workshops and activities at Kalihi-Palama District Service Center‘s Kupuna Independent Life Series held at the Iwilei Senior Residence. This week, they celebrated #GivingTuesday and talked about health and nutrition.

They created #UNselfies in celebration of #GivingTuesday; they wrote on their #UNselfies on why they give. Later, they had two guest speakers: Sherrie from the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii and Lisa, a nursing student from Chaminade University. Sherrie talked about the functions of the kidney, how to keep it healthy, and what would happen in the instance you would need a kidney transplant. Lisa led a discussion about nutrition. She recommended to the kupuna that they get their vitamins naturally from foods rather than supplements since it is healthier and less expensive.

After presentations from Sherrie and Lisa, the kupuna got up and did some stretches. They closed the day with a healthy lunch of chicken moringa with mixed raw vegetables and avocado.

Central District Service Center Receives Early Christmas Present

HCAP’s Central District Service Center received an early Christmas gift from volunteers at the Makalapa Community Center. The community volunteers recently re-painted lines on existing parking stalls and made the handicapped stall more visible. Located at the Makalapa Community Center, the Central District Service Center provides numerous programs for adults and children in the surround community who visit daily, including the Competency-Based Community School Diploma Program (C-Base). The parking lot was in much need of a makeover and with the generous donation of the volunteers, the Makalapa Community Center parking lot is now looking fresh and improved.

Central District Service Center’s Community Service Manager Katy Perry worked with volunteers who donated the paint and their time to help give the community center a fresh look. “It might seem like a small thing, but for our community center this is huge,” Katy said. “Now when clients visit our office they will be greeted by beautiful parking lot.” The staff at Central District Service Center would like to thank the volunteers who came out to make this project possible.

Windward District Service Center Partners with First Assembly of God

HCAP’s Windward District Service Center recently established a partnership with the First Assembly of God. The Moanalua-based church has completed 8 of its 9 planned dome shelters that will house homeless mothers and their children. The domes will be able to house as many as 45 women and children. As part of the partnership, the Windward District Service Center will provide employment services to the dome residents and provide any outside agency referrals as needed.