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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 20, 2002

Community service groups rely on donated efforts

• Volunteers see their efforts make a difference
• How to organize a blood drive

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Nats Chagami, Chisako Emmos and Henry Chagami of Aiea United Methodist Church prepare dinner at the Institute for Human Services. They volunteer as cooks twice a month. IHS is among many groups experiencing a surge in volunteerism since Sept. 11.

Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Volunteerism expo

Governor's International Conference on Volunteerism and Disaster Readiness Expo

Friday through Feb. 26

Hawai'i Convention Center

$175 for five-day workshops

586-7200 or volunteeraloha.com

More space didn't help.

Donations poured into the small kitchen at 350 Sumner St., where the Institute for Human Services serves meals at the men's shelter. Even after increasing the storage space, the staff had trouble finding spots for the canned goods, dry pasta and bags of rice.

"The holidays are always overwhelming because of the generosity of the community, but this year was even more overwhelming," said Catherine Graham, public relations and volunteer services manager. "There's been more donations, more money, more people calling, wanting to help out. It's wonderful."

Volunteerism isn't a new concept, but it has become the latest buzz word.

The Sept. 11 terrorism proved that out of conflict comes compassion. The nation rallied together and patriotism swept the country. Donations poured in and volunteers signed up. Americans caught the spirit of giving back.

Volunteerism was even given the presidential stamp of approval. In his State of the Union address, President Bush urged all Americans to commit at least two years, or 4,000 hours during the rest of their lifetimes, to community service.

"For too long, our culture has said, 'If it feels good, do it,' " he said. "Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed: 'Let's roll.' ... We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than itself. We have been offered a unique opportunity, and we must not let this moment pass."

Even in Hawai'i, insiders have noticed an increase in willingness to help out in recent months.

Hula Bowl Maui had the most volunteers ever this year, with more than 700 helping on the annual college all-star game.

"We were concerned about a lot of things since 9/11, but we were never concerned about the outpouring of support from the people in Hawai'i," said Lenny Klompus, chief executive of the Hula Bowl. "People here care."

According to the Hawai'i Community Foundation, Hawai'i residents are among the most generous in the nation. In a report conducted by the statewide nonprofit organization, 66 percent of Islanders volunteered last year, compared to 55 percent of people on the Mainland.

Residents volunteered for religious agencies (33 percent), community groups (26 percent), health-related causes (21 percent), and culture and arts agencies (18 percent) — all in proportions higher than for their Mainland counterparts.

About 100 volunteers are working to put the Governor's International Conference on Volunteerism together. It starts Friday. "Without the volunteers, I wouldn't have a conference," said Mary Matayoshi, director of volunteer services in the governor's office. Her mission is "to promote, support, initiate and enhance citizen participation within the state government and the general community."

According to a 1999 study, volunteers are worth an average of $14.83 for every hour that they work. Matayoshi estimates that volunteers saved the state about $38 million last year.

Hawai'i residents, at all income levels, also give more from their wallets.

"It's a phenomenon, isn't it?" said Kelvin Taketa, president of the Hawai'i Community Foundation. "I think it has to do with the tradition of giving that's part of the culture in Hawai'i."

Organizations that rely on volunteers will attest to this: Every little bit helps.

The Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation knows all too well the importance of volunteers. The nonprofit organization has just one full-time staffer; the rest are volunteers.

"Having volunteers is critical," said Lei Rol, director and full-time volunteer at the children's foundation. "Without volunteers, we wouldn't exist."

The same goes for Aloha United Way, which finances a network of 64 health and service agencies. According to the organization, about 29,000 volunteers contributed more than 1 million hours of community service in 2001, just within those 64 agencies alone.

AUW reported raising $14.3 million in 2001, exceeding its campaign goal by $700,000 despite a sudden downturn in donations in the weeks after Sept. 11.

Sept. 11 prompted thousands of people to donate blood. But the need for blood has increased. In Hawai'i, 200 blood donors are needed every day.

Thanks to community blood drives, run mostly by volunteers, the Blood Bank of Hawai'i collected more than 49,000 pints last year, with nearly 600 organizations or companies sponsoring drives.

"Every weekend there's a blood drive in some community," said Warren Nakano, senior blood bank representative. Schools, churches, organizations and companies all get involved.

Even IHS has seen a surge in interest in volunteering, with more than 1,850 people having worked in its kitchen or serving lines in 2001.

But the benefits of volunteerism go further than increased contributions of blood and money to charities.

Volunteering, many will say, can change your life.

"I feel very blessed that I have a healthy family, and I want to give back to people who are less fortunate than I am," said Rol, who finds it rewarding to work with and help the families of children who have cancer. "And through the people you meet, you develop really wonderful relationships."

At 42, Rol has gone back to the University of Hawai'i to complete a bachelor's degree in communications. All to help the organization.

"Volunteering makes you feel good, it's good for the community and it instills good values," she said. "There is never a time you feel like you should get paid to do it."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8533.

• • •

Volunteers see their efforts make a difference

At 6:20 a.m. on a Saturday, Lezlie Yamauchi was barely awake, but still in motion, lugging boxes out of her truck and into the empty auditorium at Kaimuki Christian Church.

She carefully arranged cookies on platters and hung up the sign that was the culmination of her efforts for the past two months: "Give Blood Now."

Our responsibility as the 49th Cherry Blossom Festival court is to coordinate service projects throughout the year. We ended our yearlong commitment to community service with a blood drive on Jan. 26.

"I think it was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done," said Yamauchi, team coordinator for the event. "It was something we started from scratch."

And though our goal was to collect 80 pints of blood and increase awareness about the need for blood in Hawai'i, what we learned in the process was just as valuable: the importance of community service.

"I can't imagine not doing it," said Jaslyn Hanamura, 19, also an avid volunteer. "Just by doing different things, you see how essential your help is to that organization. You think, 'Who else would do this if I weren't there?' You feel more responsible to the community to do whatever you can."

The Cherry Blossom Festival is rooted in community service. Each year the court is responsible for putting together a year-long service program. We chose to work with several local agencies, including Shriners Hospital for Children, the Junior Optimist Club and the Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center, to raise awareness about the need for volunteers in our community. Working directly with those in need, seeing how our efforts mean so much to the people involved, changed our perspectives on how much impact one person — or six twentysomethings — can have on the community.

"It has made me more willing to donate more of my own and help other causes," said Luana Ogawa, 22, who has volunteered at the American Cancer Society and worked on numerous beach clean-ups and charity walks . "I'm a lot more willing to give of my time and help others."

And that, from our experience, is the whole point.

Advertiser staff writer Catherine E. Toth is the reigning 49th Cherry Blossom Festival queen.

• • •

How to organize a blood drive

Organizing a blood drive can be difficult, but not impossible. "All you need is strong leadership and the willingness to do the work," said Warren Nakano, senior representative at the Blood Bank of Hawai'i. "You have to go out and educate people, motivate them to sign up. You have to tell them how important this is. You can't replace blood." Here's how we put together its blood drive:

Get organized: We met two months before their projected event date with the blood bank to set a reachable goal and discuss logistics. Each of us had a responsibility, from recruiting donations for refreshments to securing a location to advertising the event, with one person to serve as team coordinator.

Stay connected: We met about once a week to review our progress. Keeping up-to-date was important.

Make a checklist: Team coordinator Lezlie Yamauchi put together a list of things we needed the day of the blood drive and had the rest of us double-check it. Things we never thought they would need but came in handy: boom box, stapler, scissors, bandages, magazines (for people waiting to give blood), tablecloths, camera, pens and an extension cord.

Thank everyone: We made personalized thank-you notecards and attached them to bags of cinnamon twists. As donors left the church, we gave them out. Having that done ahead of time, instead of mailing out thank-yous later, saved us the cost of postage — and gave the donors something to take home.

— Catherine E. Toth