Aunty Jans House Of Blessings

IN 2023 OVER 150 FAMILIES (450 PEOPLE) WERE SERVED BY AUNTY JAN'S HOUSE OF BLESSINGS, ACTIVITIES INCLUDED:THRIFT STORE - THE FREE / DONATION-BASED THRIFT STORE IS OPEN ONCE A WEEK FOR HALF THE DAY. ITEMS INCLUDE SUCH THINGS AS CLOTHING FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY, HOUSEHOLD AND KITCHEN ITEMS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BOOKS, AND CHILDREN'S TOYS. THREE VOLUNTEERS WORK IN THE STORE EACH WEEK. THE WIDER COMMUNITY DROPS OFF DONATIONS, AND VOLUNTEERS SORT THROUGH THE BAGS AND ORGANIZE THE SHOP ON A REGULAR BASIS. VOLUNTEERS ALSO CLEAN THE THRIFT STORE MONTHLY.FOOD PANTRY - AJHB IS THE ONLY EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY IN THIS AREA AND KEEPS A MODEST FOOD PANTRY TO MAKE NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AVAILABLE TO THOSE IN NEED. IN 2023 AJHB PROVIDED MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE WITH NONPERISHABLE FOOD.FOOD BOX PICK-UP & DELIVERY - MAUI FOOD BANK MAKES FOOD DONATIONS WEEKLY (PERISHABLE) AND MONTHLY (PRODUCE). SUSTAINABLE MOLOKAI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTING THE FOOD WHERE THEY PREPARE BAGS FOR PICK UP FOR THE MAUNALOA COMMUNITY. AJHB VOLUNTEERS PICK UP AND DELIVER 15-20 FOOD BOXES FOR THOSE UNABLE TO PICK UP THEMSELVES. FRESH PRODUCE IS PROVIDED EACH MONTH AS WELL, WHERE AJHB PICKS UP AND DELIVERS TO KUPUNA AND FAMILIES IN NEED.KUPUNA PROGRAM - AJHB OFFERS A PROGRAM TWICE A MONTH WHERE KUPUNA GET TOGETHER TO TALK STORY, SHARE MEALS, PLAY UKULELE, AND MAKE CRAFTS. DURING THE GATHERINGS WE LEARN OF ANY SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE KUPUNA AND DEVISE A PLAN FOR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE. TWENTY-FOUR KUPUNA PARTICIPATED IN 2023.MONTHLY HOME-COOKED MEALS FOR KUPUNA - A CREW OF THREE VOLUNTEERS WORK TOGETHER TO PLAN, PREPARE, AND DELIVER HOME-COOKED HEALTHY MEALS TO 25 KUPUNA AND FAMILIES IN NEED LIVING IN MAUNALOA. FOOD AND SUPPLIES ARE PURCHASED, AND HEALTHY MEALS ARE PREPARED, PLATED, AND DELIVERED EACH MONTH.SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR KEIKI - THROUGH DONATIONS FROM MAUI ORGANIZATIONS, AJHB IS ABLE TO DONATE BACKPACKS AND OTHER SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR MAUNALOA KEIKI. IN 2023 WE DELIVERED 75 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO CHILDREN IN NEED.THANKSGIVING FOOD BOXES - THROUGH DONATIONS FROM MAUI ORGANIZATIONS, AJHB IS ABLE TO DONATE TURKEYS AND FOOD BOXES THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING. IN 2023 WE DISTRIBUTED 120 TURKEYS TO FAMILIES IN MAUNALOA AND THE OUTLYING AREA.CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR KEIKI - THROUGH DONATIONS FROM MAUI ORGANIZATIONS, AJHB IS ABLE TO DONATE A NEW GIFT TO EVERY KEIKI IN MAUNALOA. IN 2023 WE DISTRIBUTED 150 GIFTS EACH KEIKI RECEIVED ONE.LAHAINA SUPPORT MANY IN MAUNALOA HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO WERE AFFECTED DIRECTLY BY THE LAHAINA CATASTROPHE, WHO LOST THEIR HOMES, LIVELIHOOD, AND FOR SOME THEIR VERY LIVES. OUR COMMUNITY SENT HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF SUPPLIES TO LAHAINA BEDDING, CAMPING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, AND HEALTH AND PERSONAL ITEMS. IN ADDITION, AJHB SUPPORTED LIVE LIKE TRE FOUNDATION TO ASSIST FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR HOMES IN THE FIRE.OUTREACH A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE WORK OF AUNTY JAN'S IS PROVIDING OUTREACH AND A CARING EAR FOR THOSE IN NEED. JANICE PELE PROVIDES SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND SOMETIMES CLOTHING OR NECESSARY HOUSEHOLD GOODS TO THOSE IN NEED. SHE LEARNS WHEN KUPUNA NEED RIDES TO APPOINTMENTS OR GROCERY SHOPPING AND ARRANGES TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS ASSIST. AUNTY JAN AND THREE OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE REGULARLY ASSISTING KUPUNA WITH SUCH THINGS AS RIDES, HELP WITH TRASH PICKUP, COLLECTING MAIL, AND SHARING MEALS.COMMUNITY NETWORKING NETWORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN 2023 INCLUDED MAUI FOOD BANK, SAINT VINCENT FERRER CHURCH IN MAUNALOA (PARISH OF ST. DAMIEN CHURCH), MAUNALOA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND MAUNALOA HOUSING. AJHB ALSO NETWORKED WITH MAUI-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING KIMOKEO FOUNDATION AND STREET BIKERS UNITED, WHO PROVIDED DONATIONS OF FOOD, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, AND SCHOOL BACKPACKS FOR KEIKI. NETWORKING IS MOSTLY CONDUCTED BY AUNTY JAN.ADMINISTRATION VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE OFFICE SUPPORT, CORRESPONDENCE, AND BOOKKEEPING AND TAX FILINGS. AUNTY JAN AND A VOLUNTEER WORK APPROXIMATELY 5-10 HOURS PER WEEK TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE ORGANIZATION.