HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1204.003 2006-2008 _ _
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Teresa L. Nakama
73-99$ Ahu;ani Street
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: 808-325-7157
Email: nakamateresa~.aol.com.
May 7, 200$
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
RE: SUPPQRT FOR HCEOC (Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council) REQUEST FOR FUNDS
Aloha:
I'm Teresa L. Nakama and I thank you far the opportunity to testify before this Council.
Who uses HCEOC's transportation services? It is the Handicapped, Elderly, and Disabled.
HCEOC transportation services have been in existence for years. One of HCEOC's primary objective is
to transport the low-income, disadvantaged families and individuals so that they are able to keep doctors'
appointments, Dialysis treatrnents,pick-up medications, shop for food and personal daily necessities, participate
in community affairs, participate at congregated meals sites in Kona, Hamal~ua and Hilo, and attend social
functians...basically, almost every thing that you or I can do to get our daily needs met because we have a car.
But these low-income disadvantaged Elderly, Disabled, Handicapped and individual families rely on HCEOC's
transportation services to sustain their independency 3 to 4 times a month.
I am asking this council to help HCEOC restore the transportation services to 8 hours a day instead of 6 hours
and the drivers' wages were also cut. Driving time alone will take most of the 6 hours due to the distance of
travel; help us restore these vital services.
Please, I ask all of you on the County Council to consider and envision the impact that this will do to our low-
in~c.ome disadvantage community that HCEOC hats served for more than ~0 years and truly Feel the compassion
for the people that depends on the transportation services especially those that have no family members to help
them,
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Ref. Tos ~l
def. Dad ~ ~
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' se voices that are often not heard, the elderly, disabled, immigrant youth,
HCE4C is an advocate for tho
onomicall disadvanta ed. HCEGC provides a wide array of services and resources
offenders and the ec y g d
' rent or utili bills a ride to and from the doctor, work or school, fob skills an
including assisting with ty
' ' re wheel chair accessible buses and to the senior centers to have lunch with
.employability, early childhood ca ,
' etter their life in our community. The big island geographic locations of
valued friends and advocacy to b
' ' ' ' ce to our clients and lace a hardship on families trying to take care of their
medical facilities are of great distan p
elderly.
' four communi and a ke link to our clients' access to a wide range of social,
HCEOC is an essential part o ~Y ~ Y
' overnment services, HCEOC provides in assisting an amazing number of
health, Ike Hawaii, business and g
' keiki to our Ku una. HCEOC is here to service our people and change lives.. The target
people from our little p
' -income individual's ersons with disabilities and medical needy, preschool and
population is the elderly low p .
• before ou to ask for our financial support to ensure the continuation of
disadvantage youth. Were here y Y
trans ortation services for the elderly, disable and underserved constituencies.
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Sincerely,
Teresa L. Nakama
Cc: Mr. George Yokoyama, Exec. Dir.-HCEaC
Ms. Lydia Mahi, West Hawaii Supervisor
Mr. Pete Hoffmann, Waimea Councilman
Members of the Hawaii County Council