Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union Supports the Institute for Human Services as they Celebrate their 45th Anniversary
In response to concerns highlighted in the new report by UHERO, a group of staff volunteers from Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union (FCU) volunteered their time at the Institute of Human Services (IHS), intending to help with getting much-needed meals out to the homeless community on Oahu.
The UHERO report entitled The Hawaii Housing Factbook, documented that Hawaii has the fourth highest homelessness rate in the United States. According to the report, fewer than one third of households in Hawai`i can afford the typical local home.
Celebrating 45 years of service with the help of the community, IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell said, “The spirit of volunteerism by HCFCU is the kind of community involvement that made a huge difference back when IHS first started and is key to us keeping our doors open and people fed. Current staff shortages mean a volunteer might be the one that ensures a guest receives dinner or gets their pillow and blanket for the night."
Many of these guests had been living on the streets of Oahu without access to cooking facilities and unable to meet their basic daily needs before entering the shelter for respite. The team made time after work over the evening of July 11th and returned after work last evening to serve up a hearty chicken dinner, courtesy of IHS. The team also helped to prep breakfast for this morning.
“It was a very humbling experience,” said Hawaii Central FCU Consumer Loan Officer and volunteer Jorge Phillip Lafedez.
IHS prepares and serves, on average, 850 meals a day for men, women, and children out of their kitchen to three larger homeless shelters and their six other smaller specialty shelters. In addition to meal services, IHS provides healthcare, employment, housing stabilization, homeless outreach, and other specialized services.
“Having personally known and worked with Connie [Mitchell] for many years and knowing that their [IHS] mission aligns with our mission in terms of people helping people, it is a great privilege and honor that we embark on this endeavor with them,” said Hawaii Central FCU Executive Vice President Gary Nakata.