COM 0676.004 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 14, 2006 Councilman Fred Holschuh, Chair of the Nonprofit Grant Review Committee Committee Members, ~ ~ i~~ ~ , RE: Hamakua Youth Center Aloha, The Hamakua Youth Center (HYC) is a wonderful place to help prevent substance abuse. It is a positive atmosphere for youth to go and creates a learning healthy environment. I have lived in the Hamakua for 10 years. When I saw the sign go up on opening day at the youth center I was so happy to know our community had a place for the youth. As you know the HYC is the one of very few if any other youth center's on this island. It would be criminal to have to close or cut back on the operations of this center. As you know drug prevention costs all of us considerably less than treatment or incarceration. It is my belief that if we provide youth with positive alternatives we can prevent substance abuse. I have been involved with Hamakua Community for the past 9 years as an Adult Probation Officer. I have also been involved as the Chair of Power of Choice Hamakua (POOH) and Vice Chair of the North Hawaii Drug Free Coalition (NHDFC). Both the POCH and the NHDFC have been active in North Hawaii to educate, and assist families with the problems related with substance abuse. We believe a healthy community is a drug free community. Funding the HYC would greatly help all the youth and their families who participate in the youth center and their programs. If you all take minute to reflect on when you were a youth, what facilities did you have available to you? Isn't it nice that the youth of Hamakua do have a wonderful facility to utilize! Please fund this excellent operation. Sincerely, Douglas G. Andrews Box 1288 Honokaa, HI 96727 Phone: 443-2001 Comm. No. ~ • Raf. To:_ R~• pare MAR 14 2006 1