Daniel K. Akaka Clinic Food Distribution Event

This monthly event is organized in coordination with the Hawaii Food Bank and the Armed Forces YMCA, and it is an opportunity for Veterans and active-duty military to get cost-free groceries. VAPIHCS holds an Ohana Open Market on the second Friday of each month.

“Everybody that came today was able to get some fresh food, and we’re very proud to be able to offer that,” said Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) Chief Schoen Safotu. “It’s been almost a year since the Akaka clinic opened, and it’s had a huge effect on the local community. Leeward Veterans really appreciate the clinic being here.” 

The VAPIHCS Women’s Health program set up an area for cookie decorating, writing cards to Veterans, and having a “coffee and conversation” social. Grand Canyon University and the American Veterans (AMVETS) Ladies Auxiliary helped to organize the women’s health portion of the event. They set up on a conference room near the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) office. 

“The Valentine’s Day cards we’re writing for Veterans are part of an idea from the founder of the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Doris Edwards,” said AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Member Mimi Mitchell. “She used to visit her husband in the VA Retirement home, and she saw that some Veterans there didn’t get many cards from friends and family. She started having volunteers write kind messages in cards, which she would then pass out on holidays like Christmas or Valentines Day.” 

The main lobby of the clinic was used for an information fair, which offered a chance for VAPIHCS services and programs to set up tables and interact with Veterans. These information fairs are also an opportunity for community organizations to come and talk with Veterans about what they have to offer. One of the tables set up at the Valentines Day event was to provide information about the new Daniel K. Akaka State Retirement home. The 120-bed facility had their first patient move in last week. There were several other tables set up, including a table for caregiver services, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Catholic Charities of Hawaii, the Elk’s Club, Harosky Homes, Smart Money, Big Tire Boot Camp, and the Steven A Cohen Foundation, to name a few.

“This is my first time coming to the Akaka clinic and being involved in an event here,” said VAPIHCS Administrative Assistant of Fleet Management Charles Mason. “You don’t realize how many folks in the communities that we serve are in need. It’s nice to see them able to come here and get food and learn about what’s available to them. I hope we are being an asset to the local community.”

Volunteers came from several organizations, including VAPIHCS employees, the American Red Cross, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), active-duty service members, the Elks Lodge Hawaii, and many other groups and organizations. They took food off of the pallets it was delivered on and organized it on tables for easier distribution. Veterans said they were excited about the Waialua fresh eggs and the produce from Aloun Farms. It was a very successful event, like many others that have been held at the new clinic since it opened on April 8, 2024. 

“Things at the Akaka clinic are going really well,” said Patient Advocate Elaine Williams. “We still have some resources to add, but we are exceeding people’s expectations every day.”

Numbers for Those Helped at This Event:

•  57 Volunteers
•  971 Adults and 328 Children
•  417 Total Households

Events so far at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic (Nearly One Year In)

Art Events

• Weekly Free Art Classes every Wednesdays 10 am to 2 pm
• Veteran Creative Art Festival August 9, 2024

CDCE Events

• Thanksgiving Lunch November 28, 2024
• Koa Challenge Closing Day Luncheon November 16, 2024
• Koa Challenge Medal Ceremony December 12, 2024

Ohana Open Market Events

• Ohana Open Market May 31, 2024
• Ohana Open Market September 13, 2024
• Ohana Open Market October 11, 2024
• Ohana Open Market November 8, 2024
• Ohana Open Market December 13, 2024
• Ohana Open Market January 10, 2025
• Ohana Open Market February 14, 2025

Public Affairs Coordinated Events 

• Opening Ceremony April 5, 2024 & First Day April 8, 2024
• Center for Pacific Islander Veterans Health Opening Ceremony June 4, 2024
• Summer Vet Fest August 10, 2024

Other

• Suicide Prevention Event September 20, 2024
• World Diabetes Day November 14, 2024
• Opening of The Brew Café on May 15, 2024