26 Dec The Gift of Giving & Gratitude
As the holiday season gives way to the return of routine in the New Year, we can’t help but reflect on the incredible kindness and generosity that were felt throughout our shelters at the end of the year.
This year’s Christmas experience was about sharing and giving to one another throughout our shelters and service sites. To promote the gift of giving, this year, guests picked out gifts from wish lists to give to their neighbors. The presents were donated by many of our supporters, including Adventist Health Castle, aio Foundation, Aiea United Methodist Church, AIA Honolulu, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Locations Foundation, the Waikiki Elks Club, and dozens of individuals.
The action of giving gifts brought smiles and joy to all of our residents – children, moms, dads, kupuna, and individuals. Many homeless families have not been in an environment to create their own holiday traditions or to afford gifts for others. This provided an opportunity for our guests to start developing their own traditions and to appreciate the pleasure of gifting for others. The holiday celebrations brought a sense of normalcy and belonging to our shelter guests, a welcome change from the challenges of their daily lives. Mahalo to all of the individuals and organizations who made this holiday special and who truly believe in the magic of giving.
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