The Local Mission Fund is a part of the Outreach Committee.
The Board has two committees: Outreach Committee and Mission Committee.
Preface
Over the years the Outreach Committee of Keawala‘i Congregational Church has sought to provide support for those in need. Such support has been provided through a number of community organizations and social service agencies including the Maui AIDS Foundation, A Keiki's Dream Program, the Maui Food Bank, Kaunoa Senior Services Center, Women Helping Women, Hospice Maui, Maui Blood Bank, Horizons Academy, The Children's Justice Center of Maui, Maui Youth & Family Services, Maui Family YMCA, and many others.
In addition support has been provided through the combined efforts of other faith communities as well as through requests received directly from individuals and families seeking assistance with health, food, clothing, housing, transportation, counseling, and other needs. Sometimes families are faced with a member's catastrophic illness. In some cases, individuals lose their jobs and are unable to find any suitable work within a reasonable amount of time.
Some families are single parent households. Other households are faced with the turmoil of substance abuse and/or domestic violence. In each instance the committee seeks to help and encourage those in need to also help themselves.
Local Networking
Since 1999 the Outreach Committee began to expand its work through a network of other local faith communities in responding to those in need. Unfortunately several network partners have either curtailed or terminated their own programs.
Efforts are underway once more to rebuild the network and establish ways in which such partnerships will increase the amount of resources that may have a more effective impact on those in need.
The Local Mission Fund
Maui, Moloka‘i, & Lāna‘i
The Local Mission Fund provides grants to benefit individuals and families in need who reside in local communities throughout Maui County. These communities include those located on the islands of Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i. The Local Mission Fund draws the bulk of its resources through the fundraising activities of the Outreach Committee of Keawala‘i Congregational Church. These include the annual Christmas Crafts Faire, Bake Sale, & Silent Auction and at least three other fundraising events that are held throughout the year.
How the Fund Works
Request are received from a number of different sources. First, members and friends of the church may make a request on behalf of an individual or family. Second, referrals are sometimes received from community organizations, social service agencies, and other faith communities. Third, requests are sometimes received fro the persons or families in need.
The Beneficiaries
Partial or full grants are made based on the assessment of other resources that are made available to the grantee. These may include the grantee's own resources or those received from other organizations and agencies. All grants directly benefit person or persons who are in need.
Grants issued through agencies, organizations, and other faith communities are not to be used to the supportive the administrative expenses of those various groups. Grants released to and through agencies, organizations, and other faith communities and to recognized community funds established with local financial institutions located within Maui County.
Areas of Need
Grants may be issued, though not limited, to the following areas of need:
| Counseling | Housing | Elder Care |
| Legal Defense | Transportation | Food |
| Utilities | Health | Youth |
| Education | ||
How You Can Help!
There are three ways that you can help the Outreach Committee in its work. First, include the work of the committee in your prayers. Second, if you know of individuals or families in need of assistance, please share this brochure with them.
Third, you may make both monetary and material donations to the committee, including household furniture and appliances. No clothing please.
Recipients Respond
A thank you letter and a thank you card was received from two recipients of grants made available through the Local Mission Fund of the church. The letter from Lānaʻi Volunteer Hospice is printed in its entirety. The Outreach Committee approved a grant for Hospice Lāna‘i to acquire a new Oxygen Concentrator for its work with patients.
The thank you card included a poem. For reasons of confidentiality, the names of individuals who receive grants are not made public.
Dear Keawalaʻi Congregational Church:
Your generous help has brought so much joy and faith to my heart. Words cannot express how thankful I am that you have helped me. I look forward to becoming a member of your congregation and joining your masses.
This poem goes out to your church because your generosity reminds me of how lucky I am that you’ve helped bring me a brighter, hopeful future and when testing comes, I am always ready with God by my side.
Thank you so much and God bless you.
When Testing Comes
Sometimes you allow us, Lord
to go through times of testing.
And often, Lord, it may come to us
after a time of blessing.
You let those times we go through
be time of deeper work;
to teach us, Lord, to trust in you
even though we may hurt.
We try so hard to understand
just what is going on
and why we go through such a low
when before we felt so strong.
And when our bodies are in such pain
and our minds are in the dark,
why do doubts of your word, Lord,
creep into our hearts?
We wonder where you are, O God,
in the midst of all our doubt
and why you even allow such trials
that seems to cloud you out.
It often seems so hard for us
to trust you in these times.
We want you to remove the pain
in our bodies and our minds.
And yes, O God, I know you heal
and give us hope to believe in;
then other times you allow us to
go through difficult seasons.
But you know what’s best for us
and you see the bigger picture.
You’re always there to walk with us
into a brighter, hope-filled future.
Lāna‘i Volunteer Hospice
Thank you very much for your generous donation of a new Oxygen Concentrator. This concentrator will be used for hospice residents on the island of Lānaʻi who need this treatment and comfort during their last days.
Dr. Nancy Long and Eve-Lynn Civerolo delivered it to us today and provided in-service on its use. This donation will enable Lānaʻi residents who travel to Maui or Honolulu for medical care to return to Lānaʻi and remain in their home and be able to receive the oxygen their doctors prescribe. It will also provide their families with peace of mind that their loved ones are receiving a gift of enriched air to help them feel comfortable.
Linda Kime was also gracious enough to call and offer to help with a back-up unit if we could not find a benefactor on Lānaʻi. You have a wonderful church. We are truly blessed.
John Schaumburg, Coordinator
Hospice Maui – Lānaʻi Volunteer Hospice
Keawala’i Decal Available
Judi Pasco, a member of the Outreach Committee, reported at the July 16, 2009 meeting of the Outreach Committee that a design for a decal has been completed by graphic artist Helen Milne, a member of the church and resident of Mākena. The decal features the name of the church and its location in Mākena along with an illustration of the church. It will be dark green and white in color.
The cost per decal is $2.00
Letters & Cards
The following letters and cards were received from recipients of recent grants from the Local Mission Fund. For reasons of privacy and confidentiality, the names of individuals or families are not listed.
The road ahead
I am very grateful for the help I received from Keawalaʻi Congregational Church. The grant for my rent allowed me to be released from Maui Community Correctional Center and continue my treatment. I am also grateful to the Rev. Kealahou Alika for reading my letter to the committee on my behalf.
Since my release, I continue to follow the terms and conditions of Drug Court. I regularly attend Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, attend classes, and meet with my case manager. I am also employed and work as often as I am able. The road ahead of me is not an easy one, but because of the faith and support I have receive(d), I know I can succeed.
Again, I thank you very much for the church’s assistance and the opportunity for a better life it brought me.
Kīhei, Maui
June 9, 2009
Gratitude
“Gratitude: A feeling of profound appreciation toward a group of individuals.” Your generosity and support came at a time we needed it most. With aloha and many mahalos.
Kīhei, Maui
June 30, 2009
A place to live
To: Sister Ann Glenn, all the pastors, the church committee, and the entire church congregation and all who donate. I thank God number one and Jesus and each one of you for being faithful saints of God. I am happy to have a nice apartment where I am feeling peace and joy. Thank you. I love you all.
Kahului, Maui
July 12, 2009
Keawalaʻi Endowment Fund
Gifts That Reserve a
Varying Stream of Income
In the May-June 2009 article in this series, we discussed a method of giving to the Church, or other charitable organizations, while reserving a fixed amount of income for the donor’s life. This article differs from the previous article only in that you may also make this type of charitable gift and select an annual income stream that will increase or decrease based upon the performance of the assets.
Under the variable income alternative, at the time of your gift you determine the payout percentage of the value of the assets each year, or whether annual payments will be based on the amount earned by the assets. When the value of the investments increases and/or earnings are greater, more income will be received. In the alternative, income will be less if the value of the assets declines and/or earnings decrease.
After the initial gift to the Church or other charitable organizations, additional gifts may be made from time to time. A current tax deduction is available for a portion of each contribution. Many people find that this type of giving fits well with their retirement planning and charitable propensities.
The following is an example of this type of giving:
Mr. Pacheco is 68 years of age and the owner of stock worth $100,000. He would like to insure his lifetime receipt of 6% of the value of the assets each year. During the first year, he received $6,000 (6% of the initial $100,000 value). At the start of the second year, the assets have increased in value to $110,000, meaning that his income during the second year will be $6,600.
In this example, Mr. Pacheco will be entitled to a current income tax deduction in the year of the gift of approximately $45,000 and he will avoid capital gains taxes on the stock. Note that if Mr. Pacheco had sold the stock he would have been responsible for the payment of capital gains taxes, and would be able to invest only the after-tax portion which would quire likely produced less than the 6% of the value of the assets which Mr. Pacheco specified at the time of the gift.