Aloha, dear readers! I'm back and stoked with what we've got for you. I've had the good fortune of getting my hands on some community engagement and philanthropic projects. I have been floored by the incredible response and reception from our wonderful supporters. Through working on these different efforts, I've had the privilege of working closely with some of our incredible local partners. Without further ado, I'm thrilled to be writing this little piece on our friends over at HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support), who have been helping Hawai'i’s seriously ill children and their families for the past 40 years.
"HUGS supports Hawaii families with a child up to age 21 who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or disease. Our nonprofit organization provides comprehensive, long-term support to each member of the family, to ensure they don't have to face their challenges alone."
https://www.hugshawaii.org/
We are thrilled to be teaming up with them to bring you a special brew we've made in their honor. Hops for HUGS will be a beautifully crisp and clear West Coast IPA made in-house, with lots of love. It will be available on tap and to-go, from all of which we'll be donating a portion of proceeds to their programs. They came to us excited to share about their endeavors and projects, and we are honored to be finding a way to further their efforts. If you live here on the island, you know how strong the sense of community is here. They are able to offer their services to families free of charge because of the generosity and support of donors that believe in their mission.
Not only are they doing incredibly difficult but important work, they are very transparent in their processes and how funds are allocated. If you head on over to their website, you can check out where they feature a different family each month so folks like us can see how far our donations are going to change the lives of our neighbors. They offer a comprehensive list of services that really strives to meet the needs of families where they are with as few barriers as possible. Services cover a wide range like respite care, peer support, financial assistance, and community building.
After hearing about all of the hard work they're doing, you may be asking yourself, "How else can I get involved?" HUGS is always looking for folks who believe in their mission and values to come stand alongside them. We understand that the pandemic times have been rough on all of us and they are able to take a wide range of assistance! You can opt in to designate them as your organization on Amazon Smile, donate HawaiianMiles, meet their wish list needs, donate can goods or non-perishable food or offer your time as a volunteer. No gift or effort is too small to make a difference.
We commend everyone working and volunteering at HUGS for all that they are doing to make these incredibly difficult situations a little bit softer for the families and kids. It is because of efforts like theirs that continue to make this such a special community to be a part of. Let's raise a glass and a cheers for all!
