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Charity Gift Guide
What local nonprofits need this holiday season
November 22, 2007
Here's your chance to prove that it's better to give than receive. And who's better to give to than a non-profit foundation and/or charity? They need love, too. And money—lots of money. But mostly love. And you can show your love by getting them what they really need. So please look over our list and donate what you can. We're not asking you to shell out a ton of dough here and some of the stuff these guys want is pretty cheap. Except for the child's playground—we've never actually shopped for one, but on something like that, you probably shouldn't be looking for bargains.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Maui County
Where do kids go for support and advice when their own families are too busy and school counselors don't seem like a good idea? The Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Maui County provides one-on-one mentors to what the organization refers to as Maui's "at hope"kids. Their broad-based programs focus less on specific problems after they occur and more on meeting youths' most basic developmental needs. They say youth in the program are 46 percent less likely to start using drugs, 27 percent less likely to start using alcohol and 52 percent less likely to skip school. The progression and development of Maui kids into productive and confident young adults is priceless to our community. BBBS serves Maui and Molokai.
WE NEED:
DVD Player.
Kid-appropriate DVDs.
Books.
Conference room furniture.
Office chairs.
CONTACT: Call Melissa Ross at 242-9754, ext. 107 or visit www.bbbsmaui.org.
Maui AIDS Foundation
The Center for Disease Control reports that 25 percent of those in the U.S. who are HIV-positive don't know it. Believing that prevention is their first defense against HIV, the Maui AIDS Foundation runs outreach groups that go to our beaches and bars to teach folks about how to reduce the risk of getting AIDS. MAF also provides free anonymous and confidential HIV testing. They've also formed the island's only network for those living with the disease by providing free case management, transportation, health care, housing and food services. MAF is currently serving around 160 clients countywide.
THEY NEED:
HIV test kits.
Office equipment: round conference table and chairs; ergonomic computer desks and chairs; new lobby chairs; lightweight laptop computers; carpet; phone system; tech updates (manuals and software).
Special client needs: food pantry items; emergency utility funding; special needs (dental/optical/hearing); vitamins and supplemental drinks; alternative treatments (chiropractor/acupuncture).
To be underwritten: paper; printing; postage; housekeeping service; condoms; insurance; testing lab; food pantry.
CONTACT: Steve Hire at 242-9000 or steve@mauiaids.org.
Maui Economic Opportunity
MEO believes that each individual is the source of a permanent solution to their needs, and that their role is to support that individual on the road to self-sufficiency and self-reliance. MEO administers the Maui County Emergency Rental Assistance program to homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless. They assist seniors with health education and getting legal counsel as well as discounts on food and merchandise. MEO administers grants to get rapid emergency assistance to low-income individuals and families. They provide training programs for low-income farm workers and case management for unemployed or underemployed individuals.
THEY NEED:
Money to assist clients in getting certified nurses training, commercial drivers license training, work tools, interview clothes, etc., so they can better seek self-sufficiency and improve their life skills. Also, MEO would like to assist seniors aged 62 and up with dental and vision care.
Laptop computers (2) to assist various programs to conduct outreach fieldwork and also to provide classroom session trainings to clients.
CONTACT: Gerry Lum, Community Services Director, 99 Mahalani St., Wailuku, HI 96793. Call 249-2970 or fax 249-2971 or email gerry.lum@meoinc.org.
Maui Arts & Cultural Center
We go there to see a big name reggae show at the A&B Amphitheater, and to the Maui Film Festival at the Castle Theater on Wednesday nights. We've wandered through monthly exhibits with Hawaiian artists at the Schaefer Gallery, taken hula classes and sent our keiki to ballet workshops. We know the Maui Arts & Cultural Center is a gathering place for our island community, providing inspiration, education, art and cultural diversity for all ages and interests. But this is only possible because of the community—annual donors, sponsors and volunteers are what keep the MACC such a great center for the island's enrichment and entertainment.
THEY NEED:
Retail display racks for MACC merchandise
New carpet for the Castle Theater's lobby
Stanchions (theater-style line-forming stands)
Small, portable folding stools for kid's gallery education lectures
CONTACT: Art Vento, 242-2787, ext. 264 or email art@mauiarts.org.
Lanai Youth Center
While Lanai is part of Maui County, that island's youth are too far away to participate in Maui's after-school and other youth programs. The Lanai Youth Center provides a fun safe place for the youth of Lanai to gather. It's the only agency on the island to provide structured and supervised activities for kids aged seven to 18. It's open six days a week, 12 hours a day. The LYC strives to bring enhanced programs to children by building positive attitudes and a healthy lifestyle. Their programs include homework assistance, prevention education, nutrition, cooking, sewing, arts, golf, archery, swimming and more. Though they've developed partnerships throughout the community to augment their programs, they need more community assistance.
THEY NEED:
Art supplies.
Rubber balls.
Outdoor toys.
Computer games.
CONTACT: Tasha Mosley at (808) 565-7675 or by fax (808) 565-9588 or email lanaiyouthcenter@wave.hicv.net.
MEO Head Start
This organization offers a quality preschool experience for children so they and their families are ready for kindergarten. They're dedicated to serving low-income families and those with special needs. MEO Head Start is a comprehensive, family-oriented program that believes the family is the foundation for each child. They see parents as a child's first, best teacher. Head Start provides early education for children aged three to five.
THEY NEED:
A new playground for the MEO Head Start Kahekili Terrace location in Wailuku. The current playground serves the public housing residents and the Head Start center. It also has a sand surface that promotes an unhealthy situation at times with stray animals and other materials. The children need a new playground structure and a rubber ground surface to provide a safe environment for exploration and large muscle development. A rubber pour-in-place surface will benefit the children at both Kahekili Terrace and at Head Start.
CONTACT: Debbi Amaral, MEO Director of Early Childhood Services, 249-2988, ext. 22.
Maui Tomorrow Foundation
This non-profit organization has spent many years working with government officials and private citizens to promote the smart, sustainable development of Maui. They want responsible planning and sound management of the island's natural and cultural resources. Their latest big action was being a party to the lawsuit that forced state officials to conduct an environmental review of the Hawai'i Superferry.
THEY NEED:
Volunteers.
Cash contributions to support the organization as well as the ongoing Superferry Legal Fund. All donations are tax deductible.
CONTACT: Irene Bowie, Maui Tomorrow Foundation, PO Box 299, Makawao, HI 96768. Call 579-9802 or visit www.maui-tomorrow.org.
Women Helping Women
This organization seeks nothing less than the end of domestic violence in our community. Their hotline received more than 15,000 calls last year and served over 20,000 meals in their shelter. They offer emergency shelter services, support, advocacy and education through services provided in our programs located in Wailuku, Lahaina and on Lanai. They also assist people in securing temporary restraining orders and provide court advocacy.
THEY NEED:
Clothes (infant/toddler sizes, rubber slippers of all sizes).
Gift cards for those at the shelter celebrating birthdays.
Interpreters (any language).
Cars in good running condition.
Powerpoint projector.
Bunk beds, strong and durable.
Dinner, once a week, for 20 people.
Paint (any colors, other than white).
Volunteers to paint the kitchen and office.
Group or organization to "adopt a room."
Commercial strength dishwasher.
CONTACT: Cindy Cline, Deputy Director, 579-9696.
Maui Food Bank
It's easy to complain about not being able to afford a new car, house renovations or an off-island trip. But those of us with food on our table have so much to be grateful for. Maui Food Bank provides this basic need to the 7,000 to 9,000 people every month that would otherwise go hungry without their assistance. During the holidays, a time when there is much focus on big holiday meals, the Maui Food Bank will feed over 15,000 hungry folks. Through a network of 70 participating nonprofit organizations, Maui Food Bank collects, warehouses and distributes mass quantities of donated food to those in need. They also seek to educate the community about hunger, as well as come up with possible solutions.
THEY NEED:
New HP workstation computers #DX2250 Micro towers (5)
New HP 6515 Notebook computer (1)
Cash contributions.
Non-perishable food, especially canned meat, tuna and canned meals and soups with protein.
CONTACT: Marlene Rice, development director, 760 Kolu St., Wailuku or call at 243-9500.
Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter
Surfrider Foundation's Maui Chapter often receives volunteer assistance and cash contributions. This generosity helps further the organization's mission of protecting the waters around the island by expanding its coastal water quality testing program and native planting projects. This year the chapter is restoring plants at Ho'okipa Beach Park as well as continuing to work on saving the waves at Ma'alaea, helping put marine teaching programs in local schools as well as conduct beach clean-ups and other efforts to get people to understand how terrible it is to pollute the ocean.
THEY NEED:
Volunteers to assist in native plant restoration at Ho'okipa.
CONTACT: Jan Roberson, Maui Chapter Chair, PO Box 790549, Paia, HI 96779. Call (808) 575-2716 or email maui@surfrider.org.
Maui Onstage
Maui Onstage enriches the island's community through support and creation of quality performing arts experiences. They also conduct stewardship of the historic Iao Theater in Wailuku. Performing arts makes Maui a more vibrant and interesting place to live. But while the arts add tangible public value, grant support is continuing to decline, making individual contributions and assistance that much more important.
THEY NEED:
Photocopier.
Laptop computer.
Storage/Warehouse.
Table saw.
Band saw.
Office chairs.
HP Plotter.
Volunteers for shows.
CONTACT: Operations Manager Krista Fernandez, 244-8680, ext. 21.
Maui Peace Education Foundation
Begun recently as a non-profit arm of Maui Peace Action, the Maui Peace Education Foundation works at peace education events and encourages careers in peacemaking (they don't like to use the term "counter-recruitment" to describe the later because it angers schools and so forth, but you get the idea). Eventually, they want to put on events similar to the War & Peace Art Exhibit that went up in Makawao some months ago.
THEY NEED:
Cash contributions.
CONTACT: Chuck Carletta, 984-3305.
The Maui Farm
They provide services that prepare individuals and families for a successful transition to self-sufficient living in the community. The Maui Farm provides an independent living program for young women aged 18-22, as well as a family-strengthening program that helps those who are homeless because of domestic violence or economic issues. Located in Makawao, The Maui Farm offers its farm-based experiential activities program and life skills training in health ohana living, which provides youth and families with opportunities for growing and healing. The Maui Farm provides positive experiences with plants and animals for people who really need them.
THEY NEED:
A large dining room table and chairs that seats eight to 10 people, sturdy and in good condition.
Reliable vehicles in good working condition for donation to program participants.
CONTACT: Paula Ambre, Executive Director. Call 579-8271, fax 579-9055 or email mauifarm@hawaii.rr.com.
Hui No`eau Visual Arts Center
Art enriches the lives within our community and nourishes our individuality. Best of all everyone can create and be involved in art. How you say? By starting with the amazing programs open to children and adults at the Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center. An artistic hub for Maui, the Hui recruits cutting edge visiting artists, holds various exhibitions throughout the year and provides a support network for artist exchange and learning. Their successful effort in 2005 to buy the historic Kaluanui Estate and maintain the mansion and scenic grounds shows their commitment to the community. Members of the Hui enjoy discounts on programs but all are welcome to join. Exhibitions and visiting artist lectures are free to the public.
THEY NEED:
Funds for Scholarships.
Golf Carts (2).
Large Chainsaw (30").
Riding Lawnmower.
Maui Electric or Cable Boom Truck.
CONTACT: Call 572-6560.
Paia Youth and Cultural Center
The Paia Youth Center offers a variety of unique experiences to youth as well as an opportunity to broaden their horizons in understanding themselves and the people around them. Youths run the adjoining Paia Skate Park, Paia Bay Cafe and the center's low power radio station KOPO 89.5 FM. The radio station enables the youth to learn media literacy, which helps them run the only youth-operated and programmed radio station in the state of Hawai'i.
THEY NEED:
Sturdy pool table.
Picnic benches (only the ones made out of that recycled plastic, though).
Baseball bats, mitts and bodyboards in good condition.
CONTACT: Larisa Manewal, Director of Operations, 579-8354.
Maui Family Support Services
They promote healthy family functioning by helping to reduce stress and promote optimal child development. They provide assistance in strengthening the parent-child relationship, through improving parenting skills and they support parents by enhancing family functions. MFSS encourages and supports families so they can meet the challenges of raising children and maintaining stable families. They also act as a liaison between the families and other community agencies.
THEY NEED:
Coloring books, washable crayons, sidewalk chalk.
Small riding toys, bubbles, balls of different sizes.
Push toys (like pretend lawnmowers, bubble blowers, etc.).
Gardening tools (plastic rakes, buckets, shovels).
A Little Tyke Playhouse.
Toys for children up to age three.
Art supplies for children two to three years old.
Gift Cards.
Diapers, wipes, baby formulas.
Strollers, double strollers, cribs, infant car seats (can be used, as long as it's in good condition).
CONTACT: Daphne Ladia, 242-0900, ext. 225 or by email at daphne@mfss.org. MTW