Hawaii Meals On Wheels Volunteer Bill Perry Recognized at Mayor’s 44th Annual Senior Citizen Recognition Program

Bill Perry is a Hawaii Meals on Wheels volunteers who delivers hot meals to seniors – who are often younger than he is.  Bill turns 100 years old this year, and according to Claire Shimabukuro, Hawaii Meals on Wheels executive director, who nominated him for recognition at the Mayor’s 44th Annual Senior Citizen Recognition Program, “he is still lucid, playful and passionate about volunteering and about his life.”

The congregation of Community Church of Honolulu in Nuuanu has simple words to live by that’s posted on their website: “Real people, living real lives, sharing real faith.”  No complex theological doctrines, but profound principles by which to live.

That is shared by even the children of this United Church of Christ congregation. A Sunday School class, led by Arlene Chang, wanted to share their real faith and came up with the idea of holding a "Souper Bowl of Caring" on this past Super Bowl Sunday.  The children raised more than $800 for Hawai`i Meals on Wheels, attesting to the fact that even children can make big difference in our world.

Volunteers are the backbone of Hawai`i Meals on Wheels, delivering 90 percent of the hot meals to the homes of our clients.  The volunteers are also our hands and legs, reaching out with compassion to those who are homebound in neighborhoods throughout Oahu.  They are also are the eyes and ears for Hawai`i Meals on Wheels, looking for other needs that may require specialized care for our clients, while listening with undivided attention as our clients freely share what is on their minds.

David Paik Donates His “Life Savings” to Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels
to Help Deliver Hot Meals for Homebound Seniors and Disabled

About 50 years ago, David Paik started saving pennies in a piggy bank for a rainy day.  Over the years, that piggy bank became too small, so David started using an empty bottled water container – the type used for water coolers – and he continued to faithfully save his loose change.