LIHUE — Registered nurse Pat Kuhn had the answer to the chilly mornings that are part of Hawaii holiday weather.
“Is it cold?” asked Kuhn, who is part of the five-person Project Vision Hawaii Kauai team affiliated with Ho’ola Lahui Hawaii and the Salvation Army relief effort, at the Salvation Army Lihue Corps on Hardy Street Tuesday.
“These are clothes I’ve been collecting since the summer. Now that the weather is colder, I can use these,” Kuhn said. Kuhn is responsible for open wound care that accompanies Kapa’s Salvation Army Lihue and Hanapepe Corps and Mobile Health Units visiting All Saints Episcopal Church. every week.
“I was busy from the beginning,” Kuhn said. “When I was in the hospital, there were people who needed treatment for some reason but didn’t get help. We took care of them and many of them are happy today. ”
On Tuesday, Kuhn said Susan Oshiro Taogoshi of Ho’ola Rahui Hawaii was also present to discuss personal medical needs over a hot lunch provided by the Salvation Army.
Since its launch in 2021 as a mobile shower for the homeless, Project Vision Hawaii has continued its program, registering across three major scheduled stops and providing approximately 50 showers per week. Offering hot showers to people.
Hot shower programs have grown and expanded to provide additional social service functions, such as open wound care, COVID-19 vaccines and tests, other vaccines, vision screenings, etc., resulting in footprints in various locations. is expanding.
The need for clothing stemmed from the fact that people using the free hot showers did not have clean clothes to change into. With the help of several community his homes and programs, Project Vision now has its own limited supply program.
Project Vision’s mission includes increasing access to health and human services.
Pua Cobb-Adams and Shaylen Silva have joined the team to increase and improve access to vision screening. Farah Aquino and Daniel La Manna are the newest faces of a team offering more than hot showers with free soap and towels to those in need.
Partnering with The Salvation Army will enable The Salvation Army to do more than just provide hot meals to those in need.
“We have a new Vision Van coming soon,” said Cobb-Adams. “It’s different than our previous large van, but it’s more compact and mobile to better conduct vision screenings in our community. And to support all the services Project Vision provides on Kauai. We are also planning a major gala fundraiser.”
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Dennis Fujimotostaff writers and photographers can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.