NA Hoaloha-Maui Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers

"There are heroes who walk among us
never looking for glory or praise
They don't seek recognition
for their thoughtful, caring ways.
Living lives of deep commitment
providing for those they hold dear
Steadfast with a quiet strength
through times of laughter and tears.
You are persons like that to me
The most selfless people by far
So Na Hoaloha, I'd like to thank you
For being the HEROES that you are."

With deep gratitude,

Ellen S.

I started volunteering with Katie in July of 2011. It started out where I was visiting her and taking her to doctor's appointments and grocery shopping. Then we were including her in Holiday gatherings as she became a part of our family.

She is such a blessing to me and my family. She is a very sweet, generous and strong woman. After being married for 60 years, her husband passed away. She had no children and her remaining family all lived in Japan.

It's because of Na Hoaloha that someone in this situation would be able to be matched up with a friend. I really feel God set us this friendship. I learned a lot from her and am so glad she has been a part of my life! I wish you all well and thank you for being part of such a great organization.

Na Hoaloha is providing a valuable and needed service in the local communities it serves. The previous Board of Directors came on simultaneously at a time of crisis and immediately and directly started dealing with all the issues confronting the agency. They have done a splendid job as is obvious from the progression of the organization and the improvements achieved. The Board members are to be commended not only for their commitment and dedication, but also for their willingness to act.

As they have now passed the crisis-survival stage, the Board determined it was time to look to the future and develop both intermediate and long term plans and objectives. Accordingly, a Board retreat/strategic planning session was held. Issues were recognized, opportunities identified, ideas shared and options discussed.

Often, when working with non-profits, we are told that if only they had more money their problems would be solved. And as we often discover, there may be far greater issues that would still be in place or even exacerbated if they had more money. However, here this is clearly not the case. They are being good stewards of their resources, but are in a precarious position unless additional resources are attained.

It was a privilege to have had a part in the planning session for the Faith In Action program, and I would like thank the staff and the Board of Directors for their commitment to helping the people of this island, and especially for their kind and gracious welcome to me.

Bill Northcutt
Faith-in-Action Strategic Planning Consultant

We so appreciate you and your staff for sending us such a wonderful volunteer. Christine came into our home with a spark that we shall not soon forget. She immediately bonded with my mother in matters of family, spiritual beliefs and love of life.

Such a loving, congenial and competent person as Christine was a God-send to a wheelchair bound 92 year old. Many of my errands were delayed so that I too could enjoy Christine's enthusiasm and overall goodness.

This friendship will always be fondly remembered with sincere appreciation.

My parents have appreciated and enjoyed your volunteer services of being able to go riding and out to lunch with your volunteers. They have been so kind to volunteer their time and day so that my parents might be able to get out of the house one more day a week than I can take them out.

I am not able to take them riding every day and they have so enjoyed their outings since they can no longer drive. We so appreciate your organization!

My volunteer drives me about six times a month. He takes me to Walmart, Safeway, the doctor and the airport. He even takes me to a Haiku cemetery sometimes. This service helps me big time to maintain my independence. It also helps with my overall health, mental, physical and what I eat. It relieves me of the need to beg the children. It gives me peace of mind. My volunteer is very courteous. He gets straight A's !

Without a doubt, your services are helping me maintain my sanity I live alone with my 89 year old mother. My wife is away being a Christian missionary. During the week when I work, I have a private caregiver which is costing me a lot. “My shift” starts right after work, and I care for mom from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. My only break is when your services kick in on Saturday and Sunday for 4 hours. Mahalo nui loa. P.S. Maile is great !

My volunteers take me to the doctor and shopping. Sometimes we go out to lunch together. I recently had an MRI and I was afraid. Both my volunteers came with me and waited outside and took me to lunch afterward.

They were so concerned and wanted to wait there while I was in the machine because they knew I was afraid. They both worried about me.

I give them A+++. We have developed a lovely friendship. Sometimes they just come by and drop mangoes at my door.

My phone was out of order so I called the phone company repair service, but they sent someone out when I was not at home. I called again the next two days, but they never came back out.

My regular volunteer calls me once a day to check on me to make sure I'm okay. When she couldn't reach me, she reported it to the NA HOALOHA office. So they sent another volunteer to check on me. He used his cell phone to call the phone company to say I that I am a disabled person and had been without phone service for three days.

The phone company technician came out that same afternoon. The next day the volunteer called to make sure the phone company had fixed the problem.

NA HOALOHA is filled with terrific people!

My wife and I are caregivers for my mother. We came into this unaware of what was in store. After months of never being able to leave the house together we found help.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors made my mother's life so much better and also gave me and my wife a break. Your program was a gift that blessed three lives. MAHALO!

I am the only active family member participating in my sister’s care. She is disabled with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

This program gave me a much/and long overdue respite relief and support. It recharged my soul with a sense of community and that we all need to take in a constant flow of giving and receiving. I was also informed of other programs/support groups to continue on my journey.

Na Hoaloha is a wonderful organization! And I thank YOU.

I am the sole caregiver for my grandmother and my mother. Every Monday for two hours I get help. A Na Hoaloha volunteer watches my family members so I can have a break away from the 24 hour 7 day per week care I give.

For these two hours I forget my responsibilities and let my body and head take a break. Sometimes I walk, or go to a movie, go to the store, or to the doctor, but those two hours are mine. And it recharges my senses and relieves my stress.

I feel safe and comfortable with my volunteer caring for my family. She is always upbeat, on time, professional and especially good natured. Thank you Na Hoaloha for this help!

I want to share what I consider a very important story about Na Hoaloha and my experience with this GREAT organization. I quit my job about 5 years ago. I have worked since I was 16 years old and now I am a senior citizen here on Maui. Since I had worked all of my life I felt the need to do something besides just sitting home and taking it easy so I checked with Kaunoa RSVP to see what kind of volunteer work was available. I have always wanted to “help others” but was too busy with work to do anything.

I met with Gerri Shapiro from Na Hoaloha - Neighbors Helping Neighbors and was happy to find out there was a need. I have always worked in an office and was good on the phone with people so I started with calling people who were homebound or people who just wanted a “friend” to talk to.

I have talked with a young man in Lahaina who was disabled and had no family here on Maui. I talked with an older woman in Haiku who just wanted someone to talk to so she didn’t feel lonely. I talked to a man who lost his wife last year and was feeling down and lonely. I had so much FUN talking to these people and guess what?? It made me feel better too!

One day as I was talking to Gerri I asked her since I live alone here what would I do if something were ever to happen to me. She said “you’ll call us and we will help you”. I never forgot that sentence because I knew if I had a problem that I could call Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

I wish that this was the end of the story but........ two months ago I had a horrific car accident. My car was totaled and so was I. I had one of my friends call Na Hoaloha to tell them that I could not continue to make my calls because I was in the hospital without a phone. They called the man that I was talking to as part of my volunteer work and he came to the hospital to visit ME! It meant so much to me and showed me what a difference you can make by volunteering.

The end of my story shows what good comes from volunteering . I have been home for a little over a month now (after spending a month in hospitals). My friends were trying to help me, but I could see that it was becoming too much for them. So I called Na Hoaloha and asked for help.

I don’t know what I would have done without them. My two volunteers are Irene and Art. They are wonderful, caring people who have taken me to my doctor appointments (I have had over 20 appointments since I got out of the hospital, and I have many more to come).

All though all 3 of us are disabled, we still help others. Just putting a smile on someone’s face is part of volunteering. I found that out when I spent time at Hale Makua. There were so many people sitting there all alone and I took the time to stop and talk to them. I am sure that it helped me to recover faster as it put a smile on my face too.
Thank you Na Hoaloha!

One year ago I experienced severe health problems and I asked for assistance for someone to accompany me to medical appointments and to help me with shopping trips as my vision only allows local driving. Na Hoaloha assigned me a volunteer who helps me in every way, and has largely been responsible for getting my life back on track (at 86!) She is an incredible and a dearly loved friend. Thank you for putting her in my life!

Mom has been happier now than I've ever seen her. Praise God there is still some joy for her after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. This was all thanks to the volunteer provided to our family by Na Hoaloha-Neighbors Helping Neighbors. We are so grateful for all their kindness and caring, and were absolutely been won over by the young woman they sent us. It isn’t easy to find someone who can bond that well with an 85 year old woman with dementia. I would recommend her for anyone needing a caring, humane, thoughtful,cheerful person.