Photo courtesy of JSDavis82

Finally, once someone achieves the final goal of obtaining housing, the IHS outreach specialists provide vital case management to the newly housed clients through collaboration with housing specialists and, most importantly, to landlords and property managers.

IHS Outreach services can be reached by calling 447-2903 or by email at IHSoutreach@ihs-hawaii.org

Ohana Food Drop

Stocking Pantries and Feeding Children

The Institute for Human Services hosts an Ohana Food Drop on the last Thursday of the month  from 1:30pm – 3pm at 350 Sumner St. in partnership with the Hawaii Foodbank.  Anyone that is in need is welcome to come and fill up their own boxes and bags with fresh fruits and veggies, milk, canned goods, and bakery items between 1:30pm and 3:00pm. Photo identification is required for those picking up food, but you do not need to pre-register.

No one should ever go hungry – if you or someone you know is in need, please direct them to this essential program. For further information, please contact Ana at 447-2904.

IHS is coordinating the Urban Honolulu section of the annual state-wide Point in Time Count from January 24-29, 2012.

Photo courtesy of madmarv00

We are seeking volunteers to help with these surveys on the following dates:

Tues, Jan 24 – 10am-2pm, 5pm-8:30pm
Wed, Jan 25 – 5pm – 7pm
Thurs, Jan 26 – 5pm – 7pm
Fri, Jan 27 – 5pm – 7pm

Volunteering for this project entails working in a small team with at least one trained IHS staff member or other homeless service provider and asking homeless individuals a series of questions. Incentive items (such as snacks, toiletry packs and water) will be available to give to those surveyed.

The areas in which we will be focused on are highlighted in red on the below map.

If you’re interested in helping out, please email volunteer@ihs-hawaii.org or call 447-2842 for further details. Volunteers do not need to undergo an application process, but do need to attend a brief training which will occur at the start of each surveying session, and all volunteers must be at least 17 years old.

CEP Volunteers on a community clean-up

Several times each week, the Civic Engagement Team ventures out to different communities to offer assistance in beautification and restoration efforts.  It’s during this time that communities across the island learn about our program and experience the professionally skilled work accomplished by our guest participants.

Some of the services our CEP Participants provide to the community include park and beach cleanups, graffiti removal, shopping cart retrieval and return, invasive species and weed eradication, cleaning services, edible garden planning and development, and event support services.

If you have an event you need help with, we may be able to assist.

November Morris, BSW, CVM
Civic Engagement Program Coordinator
IHS, The Institute for Human Services, Inc.
546 Ka’aahi St
Honolulu, HI 96817

Office: 447-2886
Cell: 457-8147
Fax: 845-7190

Homeward Bound 2011

Tama Fukuyama and Maya Grossmann are back in action once again this year with the THIRD annual Homeward Bound Race, to take place on Sunday, December 18, 2011!

Over three years ago, these dedicated high school students volunteered at IHS and wondered what more they could do to help those in need. Months later, the two Punahou sophomores organized and executed the first annual USATF certified “Homeward Bound” Race to End Homelessness, which netted over $15,000 for IHS. Last year, the girls ran another successful race, and proceeds netted over $18,000 – a true blessing for IHS during a year of budget cuts!

Mahalo to our  2011 sponsors: Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, Philpott’s & Associates, Green Fleet Hawaii, Lex Brodie’s Tire Company, Topa Financial Center, Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina, and Fairbanks, D.R. Horton, Hoku Solar, Cardiology Clinic, APS Healthcare, JACO, and Alexander & Baldwin.

To register print out registration form (fee is $25 both days) and take to Running Room located at 819 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816 on December 16th between 4pm – 7pm and 17th between 10:30am – 2:00pm. Or, print out the registration form (fee is $30 on race day) and bring it to Manoa Valley District Park on race day (December 18th) from 6:00am -6:45am.

Click here to make a donation to the 2011 Homeward Bound 5k!

Or, feel free to send your donation to:

IHS
ATTN: Development Coordinator HBD5K
546 Kaaahi St
Honolulu, HI 96817

Make your miles and dollars stretch even further – click here to register your miles logged to help IHS and the Hawaii Foodbank earn ‘bread’!

Click here to view photos from last year’s event.

See below for race day map of route:

Photo courtesy of robmba

Taking care of our cars is something that we all have to do – and for a limited time only, you can care for your vehicle while making a true difference in the lives of the homeless at IHS.

Green Fleet Hawaii and Lex Brodie’s Tire Company have given IHS 15 vouchers for their Super Check Up to sell, which retails for $189 plus tax.

Buy it here, only on IHS’ website, for the special price of $150, and 100% of that money will go straight to IHS.

The Super Check Up is a $300 value and includes the following:

• 38 Point AAA Vehicle Inspection
• Alignment Check & Correction
• Tire Rotation & Balance
• Amsoil Synthetic Oil Change – Up to 5 quarts
• Over $150 Tire Road Service & Towing
• Coverage for 7500 Miles
• GreenFleet Hawaii Pedometer & Bumper Sticker

Please note that your purchase is not tax-deductible.
Your voucher will be mailed to you within 48 hours of your purchase.

Click to view the brochure.

Mahalo!

Children enjoy the tide pools during a Summer Fun outing

Earlier this year, IHS asked for your assistance in supporting our second annual Summer Fun program here at the shelter. And you responded! THANK YOU to each of you for your support. We are so appreciative of the love that poured in through financial contributions and donations of items that were on our wish list – the impact they had on our children was incredible. Special mahalo to Lex Brodie’s Tire Company and Carmel Partners, who made major contributions and sponsored the 2011 Summer Fun program.

As a result of your generosity, over 30 homeless and formerly homeless keiki came together with student volunteers and spent a month growing mentally, emotionally, and socially through team building and fun activities.

The children had a chance to visit the Bishop Museum (see below video), the Children’s Discovery Center, Diamond Head, Ala Moana Beach Park, and a variety of other exciting places around Oahu. They even had a chance to visit the dolphins at Sea Life Park!

If you weren’t able to contribute to the 2011 Aloha Aina Summer Fun program, please consider contributing to next year’s program, or to our dynamic after school Homework Club program for our children. We are always in need of assistance.

Want to read more about the 2011 IHS Summer Fun Program? Click here to read the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s article about the program.

Here at IHS we are always looking for diverse ways to expand the minds of our children through both education and cultivating their imagination –two prerequisites for capable, strong, and successful young adults. We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to e-mail our Children’s Program Coordinator with your ideas for furthering our program. We’d love to hear from you!

The Children at Bishop Museum

For more information about our Children’s Program please contact:

Angela Dumais
Children’s Program Coordinator
808-447-2821
Email: AngelaD@ihs-hawaii.org

Every year around IHS founder Fr. Claude du Teil’s birthday, The Institute for Human Services puts on a volunteer project to celebrate Founder’s Day with fun and good ol’ hard work. This year, the projects were centered around our two shelters, namely the blossoming garden outside the Women/Family’s shelter.

The day started off with about sixty volunteers signing up for various projects depending on their interest and skills. Projects included: retrieving and distributing mulch, planting new seedlings, building a new garden fence, harvesting vegetables and herbs, working on our wall garden, staking hibiscus near our Men’s shelter, repainting handrails, and bringing up a new staircase for better roof access. The volunteers came together and worked efficiently with the guidance of project team leaders.

During the projects, volunteers shared stories about previous IHS projects they have participated in, mothers and daughters spent quality time together, and people that were once strangers became friends. There was a prevalent feeling of teamwork and accomplishment throughout the day. Though they were working hard, it was hard not to notice the smiles on their faces as small talk and stories were shared.

After a rewarding day, volunteers and staff sat down together to enjoy a lunch of enchiladas, tossed salad, watermelon, and homemade ginger iced tea. As the day drew to a close, IHS dedicated a rock memorial to the late John Sousa, former clinical director of IHS. The memorial was surrounded by native Hawaiian plants and adorned with a maile lei as Executive Director Connie Mitchell said a few words.

We were also lucky to have Fr. du Teil’s widow, Roberta “Tutu” du Teil, in attendance this Founder’s Day. She made the trip from Texas for the occasion.

The work done during Founder’s Day helps our garden and shelters continue to move forward. The seedlings, surrounded by new mulch, will continue to be a part of our growing garden. Everything we harvest will be put to use in our kitchens, making the meals IHS serves more nutritious. The new staircase will help us as we continue to expand our gardens and aquaponics system onto the roof.

Through our Founder’s Day projects we were able to honor the legacy of Fr. Du Teil while continuing to look towards IHS’ future. Good work to all our volunteers who helped out!

Children enjoy the waterfall during a Summer Fun outing

Do you remember the days of summer as a child? Maybe the days were filled with camps, friendships, and excursions with family, or even trips off-island. Summer days are special, sacred times to build memories and realize dreams.

Every child should have the opportunity to experience the delight that summer brings – even those that are homeless. Here at IHS, we’re taking steps to ensure a growth experience for kids of all ages this summer through our second annual Summer Fun Program. But we need your help. Sponsors are desperately needed to help underwrite the cost of this month-long program. YOU can ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ (Ghandi), and get involved through sponsoring a child (just $150), donating something from our wish list, or volunteering your time.

The theme of the 2011 Summer Fun program at IHS is “Aloha Aina”. Both young children (grades K-6) who are direct participants as well as Junior Leaders (grades 7-12) who may be guests in the shelter or volunteers from the community are given the opportunity to grow and learn of their capacity to change and bless the world around them through their unique strengths and talents. The program is designed to increase environmental responsibility and to help children understand their impact on our precious aina, while offering a safe place to explore and grow mentally, emotionally, and socially. The Monday through Friday program will include team building experiences, fun, hands-on activity in our Urban Garden, adventures into the community, and service projects that will build a sense of community. The goal of these activities is to inspire confidence and a spirit of inquiry for the school year to follow. Junior Leaders will learn leadership skills while becoming role models for the younger children. Singing and drama will be a part of their morning assembly and outlets for creativity are many. However, the success of this program hinges on the strengths of our community partners and generous sponsors like you.

Why should I sponsor a child?

Your sponsorship will help to underwrite the overall costs of this program for one child, and provide a once in a lifetime experience for him or her. For business sponsors of $500 or more, IHS is happy to, upon request, include your company name on a the back of our Summer Fun t-shirt that will be worn proudly by children, staff, and community volunteers while we venture out into the community for excursions and projects. To have your company’s name included on the t-shirt, please send an email to Kate Record with the subject line “Summer Fun” with the name of your company. Your company will also have their name printed in our summer newsletter, reaching over 14,000 individuals.

Additionally, there will be a celebration at the culmination of this program, which all sponsors are welcome to attend. We invite you to see firsthand the tremendous impact that the program has not only on the children, but also on the community as a whole.

Please join our team and be a part of a child’s journey!*

Corporate Sponsor ($500)

I want to contribute, but I cannot afford a sponsorship. How can I help?

Even the smallest contributions will impact the lives of our children in the most positive ways. If sponsorship is not an option, Please consider ”adopting” any of the following below. And we would also like to extend a very special invitation to our celebration event giving you the opportunity to discover just how meaningful your contribution was while connecting with your community and building stronger foundational ties. We’d also like to invite you to donate an item from our wish list, or to inquire about volunteering your time to help with summer fun.

Adopt a: Tide Pool Explorer
Cost: $10.00
Value: Opening the eyes of delight and discovery for a child in the amazing world of science.

Adopt a: Litter Detective
Cost: $20.00
Value: The creation of a cleaner paradise while a child establishes a sense of stewardship for our community and learns to care for the earth.

Adopt a: Child Photojournalist
Cost: $30.00
Value: Enabling a child to create a journal to archive summer fun memories forever.

Adopt a: Day Adventurer
Cost: $50.00
Value: Gifting a child with an educational, enriching, and exciting day trip. For some this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Sponsorships

Adopt a Tide Pool Explorer $10.00 Adopt a Litter Detective $20.00 Adopt a Child Photojournalist $30.00 Adopt a Day Adventurer $50.00

Any amount is appreciated and will go a long way*

Share a: Thought or Idea
Cost: NONE
Value: PRICELESS

Here at IHS we are always looking for diverse ways to expand the minds of our children through both education and cultivating their imagination –two prerequisites for capable, strong, and successful young adults. We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to e-mail our Children’s Program Coordinator with your fondest summertime moments and/or your most valuable learning experiences for us to consider.

*Any remaining funds from Summer Fun expenses will be applied to educational and enrichment activities solely for our children throughout the remainder of the year and into our next Summer program.