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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0432.000 1996-1998 OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY Hawaii Island Catholic Social Ministry Hawaii Island Food Bank of the Diocese of Honolulu Caze-A-Van • 140 B. Holomua Street Hilo, Hawa~ i 96720 (808) 935-3050 Fax: (808) 935-3794 7 July 1997 The Honorable John Ray, Chairman Human Services Economic Development Committee n -J Hawaii County Council ~n c_n! 25 Aupuni Street 1 Hilo, Hawaii 90720 Dear Council member. - The purpose of this letter is to encourage your support for a new multi-agenc~~ndeaVOr that could substantially benefit-directly or indirectly-all of us who are privileged to live In East Hawaii. The individuals listed below have been directly or indirectly involved in this project since September 6, 1995: Renee Godoy Glad Tidings Church-Outreach Steve Todd DBEDT AI Castro Governor's Liaison Debbie Alani Church of The Holy Spirit-Outreach Laura Martin EAST HL Coalition/Homeless(EHCH) Jan Yamada DHR-Workforce Development-Division Eileen Pavao Coordinated Services Stu Kearns RSVP Gerald Kita Hawaii Housing Authority Major Joe Huttenlocker Salvation Army Cyd Souza ATV Harry Auyong Homeless Community Josh Wier Homeless Community Fozta Hoeflinger Hale Ohana-CFS Ann Bowen St. Joseph's-Outreach Cathie Hawkins Caze-A Van Ward Peery DHS-Jobs Division Mariellen Bymes-Jones Executive Director-Community Clearinghouse/Oahu Chuck Wotchke President, Helping Hands Hawaii Christine Greenfelder BISAC Lani Kahawai Ex. Director, Hi Island Chamber of Commerce Fred Galdones HI Division Director, ILWU Comm. Dia ~3~ File xo.__~U [7 x~t. -rn: ~S~GC~ ~,,f• AUG s s Iss7 Involving many of the same agencies and concerns that have made the Hawaii Island Food Bank a successful and vital civic institution, the Ho'olako Community Clearinghouse seeks a partnership between government, business and community organizations and caring residents to address fundamental family and individual needs. Just as Food Bank commodities are available only through a network of agencies that service, counsel and identify residents truly in need, Ho'olako ("To supply, provide, furnish, enrich") will apply a similar system to the distribution of material goods, such as clothing, furniture, appliances and other household items to assist individuals and families. All material items are given to people at no cost to themselves or their servicing agency. The Ho'olako Community Clearinghouse will work with established human services programs in East Hawaii. To aid the establishment of this worthwhile activity, the Hawaii Island Catholic Social Ministry has agreed to administer the program and provide its tax-exempt status during its interim; a cooperative relationship has been formed with Helping Hands Hawaii, sponsor of the Community Clearinghouse on Oahu; and 'all-volunteer' staff support is being offered courtesy of the AmericorpsNISTA program. Ultimately, we believe Ho'olako will be beneficial to the general community and the County of Hawaii as well, by providing anon-competitive outlet for unsold inventory, tax advantages for donated merchandise, as well as diminishing the sense of loss and desperation felt by less fortunate East Hawaii neighbors. What Ho'olako needs now, however, is your committee's assistance in finding an in-kind contribution of building space to ensure its stability, and to offset the high cost rent. Some of the possibilities are County of Hawaii owned, vacant or under-utilized buildings. Other possibilities are privately owned buildings, whose owners may want or need a tax incentive or write-off. Or, perhaps, you may have other suggestions [o serve our needs. We do appreciate your assistance in making this project a reality. Enclosed are informational sheets on Community Clearinghouse of Oahu, and Helping Hands Hawaii. We sincerely hope you will review the enclosed information, support this important cause with your committee's help if finding an in-kind donation, and allow us to fully recognize you and the members of the Human Resources Economic Development Committee as being among the concerned civic leaders who made the Ho'olako Community Clearinghouse a reality, using the "Three Legged Concept" of government, community and business working in harmony in service to its people. / S~in~ce~re'ly~, ~ ~ r ~ Carol R. Ignacio U Steven T. Querob Executive Director Project Coordinator OSM, HICSM VISTA, HICSM . ill COMMUNITY CLEARINGHOUSE ~ The COMAZUNITY CLEARINGHOUSE is a program through which you can respond to community needs inn a very direct way through your donations of material goods. Largely run by volunteers, this program receives donations from the public and redistributes the items free to individuals in need. We serve the clients of over 575 nonprofit or social service agencies, including shelters and the homeless. If you ace moving, remodeling, or just cleaning closets and Gave items to donate, please call 845-1669 or 847-5270. We accept anything and everything in good usable condition. Especially needed are extra-large clothing, all baby items, kitchen items, furniture, linens and food. We fill the requests submitted through the Advertiser Christmas Fund, the Star Bulletin Good Neighbor Fund, the KHON Lokahi Tree, and the Adopt a Family program, as well as helping to stock the 63 Emergency Food Pantries throughout Oahu. Pickup service is provided for large items. All donations are tax deductible. Volunteers are always need and welcomed. The CObH11UN1TY CLEARINGHOUSE assists over 575 nonprofit or social service agencies and is operated by Helping Hands Ilawaii, an incorporated nonprofit Aloha United Way agency. PLEASE DONATE 845-1669 or 847-5270 Located in Building 914 on the Kapalama Military Reservation off Sand Island Access Road. Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday - 9:011 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. N. NI8222 HQY _ E4T6 ~ D HO NOLUL~ N Y z a N r n y A A.L.&ILGO'S 0 I COHHUNIYY \ mCLEARING iiOU$E L -i? 0 TURN HERE GUARD SEACg \ ~4 R A P A L A H A \ ~~,P9G6 ,~5 0 COMMUNITY CLEARINGHOUSE FACT SHEET What is the Communitv Clearinghouse? The Community Clearinghouse is a program that enables items that are available in the community to get to the people who really need them. Who is the Communitv Clearinghouse? The Community Clearinghouse is a program of Helping Hands Hawaii, (formerly known as Volunteer, Information and Referral Service) an Aloha United Way agency. How does the Community Clearinghouse locate the needy? The Community Clearinghouse assists over 575 social service and community agencies, shelters, churches and hospitals, taking requests for the agencies and the clients they have. These needs must be verifiable and they must not have the . ability to purchase the needed items themselves. If the client/organization meets these criteria, the items they have requested are given to them free of charge. Nothing is ever sold. Where is the Communitv Clearinghouse? The Community Clearinghouse is located in Building 914 on the Kapalama Military Reservation off Sand Island Road, in space made available through a lease with Harbors Division, Department of Transportation, State of Hawaii. The year-round hours are: Monday -Wednesday -Friday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During the Christmas season (October through December) the Community Clearinghouse extends its hours to include weekends and more nights. The Phone Number is 845-1669 & 847-5270. The administrative office of the Community Clearinghouse is located at 680 Iwilei Road, Suite 430, Honolulu, HI 96817. The office phone number is 536-7234 and the hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, messages can be left there. Who runs the Communitv Clearinahouse? The program is run by two (2) paid staff persons and a group of trained volunteers. During 1994, two hundred seventy eight (278) volunteers contributed 39,760 hours. -2- How is the Community Clearinghouse funded? The program is funded by Aloha United Way, and by contributions from churches, businesses, community organizations and individual donors. What are the activities of the Community Clearinghouse? The activities include: 1. Speaking to groups and organizations to help them be aware of the services of the Community Clearinghouse. 2. Soliciting donations of usable items, such as, clothing, infant care items, beds, furniture, appliances, and household goods, that are needed to meet the year-round requests received by the Community Clearinghouse. During 1994, 227,046 material and food items were distributed to 141,675 individuals and families in verifiable need. 3. Conducting food drives to supply the sixty-three (63) emergency food pantries on Oahu. These pantries, located primarily in churches, have been established to meet island-wide requests for emergency food, as well as distributing daily and Holiday Food Baskets from the CCH facility. 4. At Christmas time, the Community Clearinghouse coordinates with the Honolulu Advertiser Christmas Fund, Honolulu Star Bulletin Good Neighbor Fund, KHON Lokahi Tree program, the Adopt-a Family program, and I-94 Christmas Kokua and Live 98 programs. Individuals/families received financial assistance, toys, food, andlor material goods. What can the Community do to suaoort this program? The continuing success of the Community Clearinghouse depends on community donations of funds, food, material goods, and the willingness of individuals to volunteer time to make it work. Revised 8/18/95 - 80 °"'°"$e'S