ECW OUTREACH IN MAUI

— Submitted by Kekuhaupi’o Akana ACCW Run Leader, Province VIII Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii

Thanks to Maui’s Episcopal churches and their friends, the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii is now in its 5th year of service to our poor, needy, and house-less neighbors on Maui.

Envisioned by a small group of dedicated Episcopalians from the four Maui churches, A Cup of Cold Water (ACCW) launched its outreach ministry on October 13, 2013 at Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church in Kihei teamed with Maui’s three other Episcopal churches – Good Shepherd (Wailuku), Holy Innocents (Lahaina), and St. John’s (Kula). Today ACCW has 80 plus volunteers from Catholic, Protestant, non-denominational, and Buddhist churches. This mission, beyond the church-of loving service, is strongly supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii and its bishop the Rt. Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick.

In 2013, the United Thank Offering made a grant to ACCW of $15,000.00 which was matched by an anonymous donor couple from Maui. Subsequently, the outreach van was purchased and outfitted for service.

In 4 ½ years, the van’s average annual statistics include over 9,000 service contacts with our poor, 5,000 miles of travel, and distribution of thousands of items of food, chilled water, basic first aid, and clothing, as well as spiritual supplies. It is the only roving food and clothing distribution program in Maui that operates regularly on Saturday and Sunday Sabbaths—along with a mid-week Wednesday run.

The Episcopal Church Women of Good Shepherd Church and our Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii ECW Chapter provide strong support for ACCW. They conduct various fund-raisers for the ministry which include “Rubber Slipper Sunday” (an annual gathering of rubber slippers), “Throw in the Towel” Sunday (a gathering of towels—a favorite item for street poor), and many other supportive services.

May we conclude with a thought from Mother Teresa: Hunger is not only for bread, hunger is for love, to be loved, to be wanted . . . . Nakedness is not only a piece of cloth, but nakedness is also the want of dignity, that beautiful gift of God. Homelessness is not only for a house made of bricks, homelessness is being rejected, being a “throw away” of society, unwanted, unloved, uncared for . . . . There among these people . . . YOU can put and I can put my love for God in living ACTION.

Verna Dozier, preacher, teacher, theologian, and Episcopal laywoman, was known for direct questions. Among them: The important question to ask is not, ‘What do you believe?’ but ‘What difference does it make that you believe?’ One of the biggest privileges of the 2015-2018 triennium was representing the National Board of ECW at events within parishes, dioceses, and provinces of the Anglican Communion, and exchanging information about growing and changing women’s ministries. It was those conversations that indeed showed the difference we can make as followers of Jesus.

Lisa H. Towle