KAPA‘A — Life’s Bridges Hawai‘i is starting a new series of specialized support groups for anyone dealing with the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the first of these groups starting Monday at the Kapa‘a Missionary Church, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Attendance is free, but registration is required. Late registration for the first session will run through Friday, Aug. 14.
The Aloha Wellness Program is a six-week program designed to “navigate the stress, struggle and loss of the status quo as our local community navigates COVID-19,” according to Rozetta Williams, executive director of Life’s Bridges, a nonprofit that provides bereavement support, working with first responders and other organizations on the island.
Monday’s session is one of several upcoming weekly groups that are kicking off in the coming days at Kapa‘a Missionary Church. A group for ages 13 to 18 starts Tuesday, Aug. 4 and a women-only group starts Thursday, Aug. 6. The Monday, Aug. 3 group is a co-ed meeting.
Every meeting runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. every week at the Kapa‘a Missionary Church.
Each six-week session will accept eight people in each group.
The first meeting of each session will be held in person, with the recommended health guidelines in place, like social distancing and requiring masks. Weeks two to five will be held virtually through Zoom.
Aloha Wellness will be facilitated by Life’s Bridges founder Gina Kaulukukui, Kresta Painter and Arvin Montgomery from Love the Journey. Each group will be supported and co-facilitated by additional Life’s Bridges staff.
“We are inviting our participants to imagine something different as they begin their journey into a vision of healing and rebuilding individual resiliency during this difficult time,” Williams said in a letter introducing the program.
Williams said the plan is to expand to additional locations around the island. The dates and locations for the Westside are still being determined.
Aloha Wellness Program’s groups in Lihu‘e will run from Sept. 21 to Oct. 26. The program will be on the North Shore from Nov. 9 through Dec. 14. Locations are still being determined.
The free sessions are funded through a CARES grant to Life’s Bridges Hawai‘i to extend the organization’s already-existing grief and bereavement program.
More info: Williams, 616-510-6363
