WAIPOULI — Emmaline Kaili watched as Friendship House staff members distributed free ice cream Thursday outside of Safeway in the Kauai Village Shopping Center. The member of the Friendship House is employed by Safeway as a courtesy clerk under the
WAIPOULI — Emmaline Kaili watched as Friendship House staff members distributed free ice cream Thursday outside of Safeway in the Kauai Village Shopping Center.
The member of the Friendship House is employed by Safeway as a courtesy clerk under the Friendship House Transitional Employment program.
“I do all kinds of things,” Kaili said. “Right now I’m collecting carts. But I sweep the floor, I take breaks to have lunch, and then there’s the paychecks.”
Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of Friendship House. Safeway donated some of the ice cream it was giving away as a mahalo for all of the community’s support for 25 years, said Dave Jordan of the Friendship House.
Starting in a single room at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, Friendship House has grown to 95 members in its own facility along Kuhio Highway, where it recently dedicated a garden.
“We hope to be here for another 25 years and more,” Jordan said.
Friendship House is a Clubhouse Model Psychiatric Rehabilitation program established in 1988, which provides mental health services to adults with serious mental illness. The volunteer program helps members achieve partnership, trust and teamwork.
Friendship House members have opportunities to work in part-time jobs to strengthen individual skills, abilities and self-esteem.
Jordan said simply by watching Kaili perform her duties, you can see the power and dignity the job gives her.
Friendship House, 4-1751 Kuhio Highway in Kapa‘a, is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Thursday hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friendship House is also open two Saturdays a month and all holidays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Call 821-4480 or email friends@hawaiilink.net for more information.
