Nancy Sparacino, President 2022-2024

Highlights of 2023-2024:

This was a very successful year for our organization.  We added 13 new Members to our roster, bringing our membership total to 101.  Most of these new Members jumped right in, helping with our programs and putting in time at our Thrift Shop.  We also had over 30 Community Volunteers, many of whom were high school students, who repeatedly helped with various tasks in our Thrift Shop. Our Members and Community Volunteers contributed over 23,226 hours of service to our community this year, with volunteer time valued at $33.49 per hour.

Our Strategic Planning Committee developed a new 5-Year Strategic Plan for 2024-2029, with input from our membership. Special emphasis was placed on attracting and retaining active members who are able to expand our reach to those we serve in Hawaii through our Philanthropic Programs.

Our five Philanthropic Programs served over 35,500 children and adults throughout the state of Hawaii, with expenses totaling $294,750.  78% of all our operating expenses went back to our community through our programs. (There is more detail about our programs on the next pages.)

Assistance League of Hawaii is in sound financial shape.  With an all-volunteer staff, our Thrift Shop brought in $347,465, open only 12 ½ hours per week. Thanks to efforts by our Marketing and Communications Committee, new radio advertising on KINE, a featured radio interview on KHPR, and continued use of social media helped to broaden awareness of our organization, adding to our Thrift Shop revenue, donations and new membership interest. We received a record number of contributions this year, after the devastating Maui wildfires, designated for Maui Relief. Our Outreach program utilized those funds. Contributions and grants this year totaled $85,441. Including revenue from our KWAK fundraising event, interest income and membership revenue, our total revenue for the year was $458,839.

The year was not without its challenges.  In January we were burglarized, with the culprit causing substantial damage to our entry door and stealing some valuable jewelry from one of our Thrift Shop showcases. We have since been securing valuable items when the shop is closed.  The homeless population in our neighboring park continues to be a challenge for us, and our daily security patrol service is still a necessity. Costs for everything increased substantially, but we had anticipated this when we developed the year’s budget. Fortunately our revenue covered all expenses for the year, with a cushion left for the unforeseen.

Summary of Service Program Accomplishments:

Operation School Bell ®:

School logo T-shirts were provided to 16,208 students from 56 Title 1 schools on Oahu and the Neighbor Islands.  Well over 2,000 students from 57 schools were served by Kokua Clothing Boxes supplied to schools, which contained shorts, T-shirts, underwear and slippers for emergency use. Ample funding allowed this program to supply an additional 1,296 pairs of slippers to 24 schools at year’s end. This year we were able to re-start our In-Store Shopping Events, and two events were held at the Ke’eaumoku Walmart Store. Over 250 students from 6 elementary schools participated and each shopped for school clothing valued at $70. 355 students received Literacy Services through one-on-one tutoring and the twice-weekly library program at Pu’uhale Elementary School. New classroom and library books were purchased through this program also. Overall spending for this program was $175,000.

Operation Wildlife:

This program expanded greatly this year, providing endangered species and conservation presentations to 3,508 students and 249 adults at 58 elementary schools on Oahu and all Neighbor Islands.  The 22-minute updated video was supplemented by a huge touch-see exhibit of animal biofacts, where students were encouraged to touch and hold real bones, furs, teeth, and other fascinating objects. Students learned that “extinction is forever” and were asked to make a specific commitment to help save our environment. Program expenses for the year were $23,074, which included printed materials and travel and lodging for our volunteers to Neighbor Islands.

Outreach:

This one-and-done program responds to emergency needs in our community.  The August, 2023 wildfires on Maui were the main focus of this program during this year.  Our organization received an overwhelming number of donations designated just for Maui Relief.  Kamehameah III Elementary School was totally destroyed by the fire, and 18 teachers lost everything in their classrooms. Outreach obtained wish lists from the teachers and purchased school supplies and equipment to replace what was lost. In addition, this program purchased laptops, backpacks and other school supplies for Nanakuli High and Intermediate School and various items for RYSE (Residential Youth Services Empowerment) transitional housing in Waianae. In total over 812 students and adults were served by this program at an expense of $13,500.

Share:

This pass-along program donated over $15,000 in items, which could not be sold in our Thrift Shop, to agencies giving them to their clients.  Over 9,000 children and adults received clothing, books, school supplies, craft and sewing supplies, toiletries, Rx eyeglasses, bedding and housewares through this program.  49 deliveries were made during the year to our agency partners in Kalihi, Waianae, Waimanalo and other areas on Oahu.

We Care:

This umbrella program serves a variety of needs mainly on Oahu.  618 Lullaby Layettes were supplied to area hospitals for new mothers in need.  767 comfort Malama Bears were provided to all major hospitals, EMS, Child Protective Services, Fire and Police Departments. Backpacks, hygiene items, clothing, food and other requested items were purchased for the homeless youth at the Youth Outreach drop-in cottage in Waikiki, serving 1,500 at-risk youth.

115 children received items at Shriners Hospital’s treasure chest via this program. 46 youth living in transitional shelters and aging out of foster care received clothing, food, hygiene products, household items and games through the Keiki Kare project. 20 women and children in the Domestic Violence Action Center received diapers, cleaning products and personal hygiene items. In total $30,949 was spent to serve 3,066 persons through the We Care program this year.