{"id":48,"date":"2010-11-10T09:23:44","date_gmt":"2010-11-10T19:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/officeforsocialministry.org\/?p=48"},"modified":"2016-09-21T00:19:31","modified_gmt":"2016-09-21T00:19:31","slug":"val_haole_outreach_coordinator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/officeforsocialministry.org\/val_haole_outreach_coordinator\/","title":{"rendered":"Val Haole, Outreach Coordinator"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Anthony of Padua, Oahu
\nhttp:\/\/www.stanthonyskailua.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Val
Val and St. Anthony volunteers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Val has served as Outreach Coordinator at St. Anthony of Padua for 8 years, a position she is both humbled and grateful to hold. \u201cBefore I accepted this position, I didn\u2019t have anything to do with social work, except life experience. I was the kitchen manager at Buzz\u2019s Steakhouse for 27 years. My foot got bad, I just couldn\u2019t do the job anymore, and I was really at the end of a career. But I believe that when one door closes, another opens.\u201d <\/i>Val was born and raised on the Kailua side of Oahu,\u00a0 and she has strong ties to the community and the families she serves. \u201cGrowing up, we were always struggling to make ends meet, to buy food\u2026keep the car running, fighting over money was a part of daily life. When people come to our thrift store, to our food distribution days, or for financial assistance, I feel compassion for them.\u00a0 I know that it is very hard thing to ask for a handout. I understand where they are coming from.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n

\"St.
St. Anthony\u2019s Outreach Office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Val\u2019s office is in a tiny house that sits just across from the St. Anthony church. It is mainly a thrift store in front, with attached office spaces, kitchen and storeroom in back, for all the donated clothing and food. An ocean breeze ruffles through the open windows and the air smells like plumeria. \u2026the beach is a few short blocks away. Volunteers are buzzing around, as the weekly food distribution is about to begin, and a line stretches out the side door.<\/p>\n

Families, moms with children, and single men wait in the sun to sign in and receive a box of food. Val is on crutches, and slowly walks with me out to the thrift store where I will be taking some photos. \u201cI don\u2019t know how we would do all this without our volunteers. I have 25 really committed folks who give their time to run the thrift store, give out food, sort the donations. They have hearts of gold, and we are blessed to have them.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n