The FRIENDS are thrilled by Bill Miller of Discount Fabric Warehouse’s project “BAGS OF HOPE”.When Bill learned that many children of abuse who are removed from their living environments often put their meager belongings in a large black trash bag. (Bill is one of our honorées of our 2019 Gala).

Social workers tell us stories of sad-eyed keiki toting around a large trash bag… and how the trash bag often makes the children feel “like trash” themselves. Bill decided that a call to volunteer sewists was needed.  Furnishing all the supplies for the bag, people gathered together in the “classroom” at the store and made many unique and colorful bags. The FRIENDS then add necessary items to the bags… toothbrushes and tooth paste, a stuffed animal for the younger keiki and a travel pillow for the older teens. Activities such as coloring books, crayons, composition books and pencils complete each Bag of Hope. Other “outside groups” have taken on the sewing project including Kamana Senior Center and the Women’s Fellowship of Puna Covenant Church. If you’d like to help, please contact Discount Fabric Warehouse at any of their Hawaii locations.