Dozens of Volunteer Contractors Build New Picnic Facility, Improve Accessibility and Safety of Indoor and Outdoor Play Areas for HUGS Group as Part of ż Charities’ Operation Opening Doors
HONOLULU - Dozens of volunteer contractors renovated the facility of a Honolulu-based charity group named HUGS that supports families with seriously ill children free-of-charge. The renovation project was organized by the philanthropic organization ż Charities, Inc., and was the group's third annual Operation Opening Doors effort.
"We can’t make these children healthier, but we can use our skills to make life easier, safer and more fun for them and their families," said Tom Brown, president of San Diego, Calif.-based Sierra Pacific West, Inc. and the president of ż Charities. "Contractors feel a deep sense of obligation to give back to the communities they have literally helped build."
HUGS, which stands for Help, Understanding & Group Support for Hawaii’s Seriously ill Children & their Families, supports nearly 300 hundred local and military families across the state. As part of the volunteer effort, contractors from dozens of local firms donated time and labor to renovate the facility, a converted home. Those improvements included building new, more handicap-accessible play and picnic areas, widening doors, improving landscaping and making other improvements to make it easier for the group to serve families.
Brown said the contractors' volunteer efforts were supported by dozens of construction firms from around the country, who donated nearly $10,000 to help purchase key construction supplies, including a new tent to shade the group’s outdoor picnic areas.
Brown noted that local construction firm volunteered as the lead contractor for the charitable effort. “As a firm, we feel very strongly about helping improve our community and we can’t think of a better way to do that than to put our skills to use helping these families,” said Mike Inouye, the firm's vice president who oversaw the renovations.
Brown noted that donated all the porous cement along with man power to repave the outdoor picnic area. Meanwhile, Honolulu-based Jayar Construction donated equipment, material and labor to remove a number of dangerous boulders in the facility’s grassed play area and re-grade the space to make it safer. the complete list of project supporters.
Brown added that he was particularly impressed that so many contractors were eager to volunteer their time and donate money to support the effort. He noted that, all told, over 20 firms and individuals either contributed time, money or both to support this year's Operation Opening Doors project.
For more information about ż Charities or this year’s project, go to .