by Edwin QuinaboThe season of giving is upon us. To Christians, the ultimate gift was that God gave His son Jesus to the world for the salvation of humanity, which speaks to the heart of why Christmas is celebrated.While most will exchange gifts to their loved ones, others this time of the year will also donate to charitable causes – to nonprofits that shelter the homeless, to their church that feed the hungry, to hospitals that provide free care to children with cancer or complete strangers needing help.For some Christians they commonly refer to Matthew 25:34-36 as their motivation for giving charitably. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”In this passage from the Bible, Jesus speaks about the final judgement and how those who’ve shown compassion and kindness to others will inherit the kingdom of God.Acts of charity and kindness for others not religiously motivated have other reasons for giving this holiday season. Compassion to give is what makes us human, some would say. And their motivation is grounded in the idea of “paying it forward,” that as a beneficiary of good fortune, for example of having a job with a stable income, they will choose to repay that blessing to others like to a charity rather than paying it back to the original benefactor.Eve Sarmiento-Holms, a former Moanalua resident now living in Laguna Beach, CA, said, “Giving is something I inherited from my parents who gave to the Philippines often. When I first moved to California about 30 years ago, I just graduated from the University of Hawaii. I didn’t have much financial security then and was just starting my career in a new city. I remember standing in a grocery line the week of Christmas talking to a stranger. He had a bouquet of roses that he said was going to be his wife’s Christmas present. He talked about how times were tough. He also had a large, canned ham he said would be for his family’s Christmas dinner. I don’t think they sell those anymore.“I was touched thinking back at my own Christmases in Hawaii with our huge potlucks and abundant presents. When it was time for me to pay for my groceries, I offered to pay for his flowers and can of ham,” Sarmiento-Holmes said. “It wasn’t much. He was a stranger in need. I remember this act of charity after all these years mostly because it was at a time when I didn’t have much at all myself, just barely making rent as I looked for a job. Until today, I remember this stranger’s face lit up when I offered to pay for his items. It was a beautiful moment.”Today, Sarmiento-Holms says she’s increased her charitable work as she is financially able to do more now. During the Christmas season she gives to her local parish and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in Garrison, New York. “As a Catholic, I choose to donate to the Catholic Church which does amazing work in our community. I also chose to donate to religious orders because many of them rely on charitable donations to continue their pastoral ministries and work helping the poor. These orders do not have a church-school or parishioners to support them. Many of them live humbly and take a vow of poverty.”The Catholic Church is one of the world’s largest non-governmental providers of education, health, and social care. It operates over 150,000 schools from primary to university level and runs 5,000 hospitals, with 70% of them located in the Third World. The Church is also involved in social action programs. Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 national Catholic relief, development and social organizations, is one of the Catholic Church’s largest charitable organizations.Catholic Charities of Hawaii, a charitable force uplifting our communityCatholic Charities of Hawaii provides senior services, housing assistance, counseling and mental health, immigration assistance and a range of other social services in Hawaii, serving people regardless of their faith or culture. They also have an annual Holidays from the Heart campaign to share gifts with others.Vernon Wong, Chair of Catholic Charities of Hawaii and Rob Van Tassell, President and CEO, said in a statement, “Catholic Charities Hawaii continues to be there for individuals and families during difficult and vulnerable times – providing critical aid for those most vulnerable.”The organization’s 2024 statement hasn’t come out yet. “In 2023, your financial support helped us provide much-needed services and programs to over 113,000 local families, children, veterans, seniors, and individuals facing isolation, poverty and crisis. This also created opportunities to expand valuable services and resources, especially for gap groups, providing hope to individuals and families in great need,” they said.A week ago, Catholic Charities of Hawaii teamed up with Hilo Target and first responders in their fourth annual “Heroes and Helpers” event in Hilo. Fifty keikis in need were each given a $125 Target gift card to purchase whatever they wanted. Community volunteers wrapped the items selected by the children so they could open them on Christmas day.Paskuhan (Christmas) With SeafarersFilipino organizers held a special event to help migrant seafarers and fishermen, the Paskuhan (Christmas) with Seafarers on December 18, Honolulu Harbor Pier 17. Organizers say it was an evening of food, stories, songs and meaningful connection with kababayan fishermen who received long-sleeved shirts, rainproof jackets, beanies, toiletries, towels, pillows, board games and other items to help them while at sea.Migrant seafarers, many of them who are Filipinos, work on cargo ships or deep-sea fishing. Because they are recruited by international agencies and travel globally, they do not have firm labor rights and are exposed to one of the most dangerous work conditions, have long work hours and face immigration-related issues. These seafarers – who contribute to Hawaii’s industries – spend long stretches of weeks away from their families, including during the Christmas season.Organizers say the event helped to uplift their spirit in this season of joy and giving. Many of them, being so far away from home, were graced with a feeling of community and connection.Paskuhan (Christmas) with Seafarers was spearheaded by Hawaii Filipinos for Truth, Justice and Democracy (HFTJD), with support from Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW), Hawaii Seafarers Ministry, Anakbayan, and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON).Victor Limon, secretary of HFTJD. said “The presence of the community is always appreciated by the seafarers. Besides companionship and medical care, the seafarers also appreciate the community’s donations of supplies that help them get by in their day-to-day life while they’re in the boats out in the ocean.” He adds, “Providing support to the seafarers not only shows our deep love for them as workers and fellow migrants, and members of our communities but also sends a message of compassion and justice about this group of global workers that are constantly exposed to one of the most dangerous fields of work due to poor working conditions, long work hours, and immigration-related issues including human trafficking. What’s a better way than to share the Christmas spirit with the seafarers and help the fishermen to feel empowered and loved?”Helping the Hawaii Food Bank Hawaii Foodbank provides 12.5 million pounds of food to Hawaii’s struggling families. Hawaii Foodbank has outlets in Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii. According to USDA reports, Hawaii has one of the highest rates of poverty in the U.S. This correlates to the state’s food insecurity with “Hawaii ranked 6th in the U.S. for the highest projected rates of child food insecurity,” said Brandi Saragossa, the Operations Director for Maui Food Bank.According to the College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawaii, the state’s food insecurity rate has been rising with food insecurity in Hawaii climbing from 11.2% in 2018 to 16.8% by 2020. Most experts agree that the struggle for food access is intertwined with the high cost of living in Hawaii. Lee Santiago, Kapolei, said doing charitable work is important to her as a Christian. She’s been active with the church she attends helping to feed the homeless. They’ve passed out meals at Aala Park and Chinatown during the holiday season. “This year I donated to the Food Bank because I know there are many families struggling just to put meals on the table. My children and I dropped off canned goods and fresh produce at the Hawaii Food Bank’s Oahu warehouse.”Given the high food insecurity especially in these current times of high inflation, the Hawaii Food Bank encourages that people interested in donating this holiday season to start a community food drive at their business, school, club, place of worship, neighborhood, organization or anywhere else.One year after the Maui wildfires, families are still struggling. “We’re seeing families — full households, working-class families where mom and dad are both working, sometimes two jobs each — but they’re struggling, especially with the transition people moving from their transitional housing into housing,” Saragossa told KHON2. “We’ve also seen people need things like household items, cleaning supplies, dish soap, laundry soap—and we’ve been helping them through that as well because of the fire.”The Hawaii Food Bank is also looking for volunteers for the holidays and all-year round. Volunteers can expect to serve meals or hand out food, sort food, box it and a variety of other tasks.Comforting seniors through Christmas carolingErick Punsalan, Kalihi, recalls one special Christmas season when he volunteered with his church St. John’s the Baptist in Kalihi to sing Christmas carols. “I was 35 at the time. I helped drive mostly high school teens to a senior facility where most of the residents were very old and alone. It wasn’t a senior home where residents have luxurious common spaces, are physically able to roam about on their own and have families visiting them in a nice garden. The residents there were on wheelchairs, alone, and looked to be sponsored by the state.”He said the volunteer teens at this church come from mostly lower-income families. But they had a desire to spread the Christmas joy to seniors. The elderly are among the most vulnerable groups suffering from isolation, loneliness and mental illness like depression, especially during the holidays. Seniors at care facilities often had their spouse pass away and have no family left on the islands at times.A new study published by the American Medical Association found that 29.2% of adults aged 50 to 80 said they felt isolated from others “some of the time” or “often” in 2024.“We went to the senior facility, a group of around 20 of us. The staff coordinated that the residents would gather in the common area where we mingled with them at first then sang about 10 Christmas carols. The residents smiled and clapped. Some were animated and sang along. “Not only was it a great experience for the seniors, but it also taught these teens the value of community service, that you don’t have to be making lots of money to volunteer and make a difference,” Punsalan said.Charitable work beyond ChristmasBenymar M Sadumiano, Kailua Kona, HI, said “Christmas is a time of passing on all the blessings that you received during the year and saying thanks to the Lord for His gift of grace and mercy. In the past Sadumiano have made donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to the American Red Cross. “It’s always good to pay it forward.”He has also supported the United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH) Sakada Scholarship program. The scholarships are awarded to high school graduates of Filipino descent who choose to pursue a college education. UFCH holds fundraisers for scholarships. “When we help our Filipino youth obtain a college education, we contribute to the overall economic, political and social progress of Filipinos in Hawaii. We should all support this effort because it empowers Filipinos and gives our community a bigger voice when it comes to civic affairs.”The scholarship is named after the Sakada workers who came and worked in the sugar plantations more than a hundred years ago.Imelda Collado Anderson, Aiea, said, “We have given to the Pinoy Power Grateful Heart Foundation, which was established in 2007 when I was crowned Mrs. Hawaii Filipina.” She said her late husband, Tito Mahal John Leon Anderson, encouraged me to return God’s infinite blessings by sharing His gifts with the less fortunate.“With matching contributions from Prudential Insurance & Financial Services and yearly donations from our Empowered awardees, we completed a number of projects for six elementary schools in the Amarosa and Cabeza districts in the Philippines. The Foundation also helped the children at Tahanang Carmela De Amores Orphanage in the Philippines and encouraged graduating scholarship recipients to mentor their fellow students.”Small help goes a long waySantiago said doing small works of charity can go a long way. “I teach my children that giving back to our community, no matter the amount – this is what God would want of us. It’s wonderful that during the holiday season many of us will dig deep even in these times of hardship to help others. This is one reason why Christmas time feels so special.”Lanakila Meals on WheelsPunsalan still has a soft spot for the elderly. “I would encourage others to share their time and love with our elderly not just during the holidays but all-year round. One organization that does great work is Lanakila Meals on Wheels. Their work is a God send.”Lanakila Meals on Wheels is Oahu’s largest and only island-wide meal delivery service for seniors. Their website says, “We believe that food is more than nourishment – it brings us together. But it’s not the only way to connect with one another, at Lanakila Meals on Wheels, we are committed to ensuring no kupuna goes hungry or feels lonely. From home-delivered meals to virtual gathering spaces, our variety of services lift seniors up and into the community.”Vida, a meal recipient, said “There were times where I felt like if I didn’t get my meals, I would starve. I’m just so grateful. I feel like somebody really cares.”Other notable charitiesHere are some other charities Hawaii residents might consider donating during the holiday season or all-year round. Visit their websites for more information.*Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls: provides free medical and dental healthcare to immigrants, indigent locals and the homeless without health insurance.*Ohana Medical Mission: travels to underserved areas in the Philippines and other developing nations, providing essential medical, dental, and surgical care to local residents.*Institute for Human Services (HIS): helps to end homelessness in Hawaii*Make-a-Wish Hawaii: grant a wish of a child with a life-threatening medical condition like cancer. It also helps children with disabilities.*Project Hawaii Inc: works with children and the homeless and provides emergency healthcare for people, especially children
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