COUNTY LAUNCHES “CHANGE OF HEART” CAMPAIGN

COUNTY LAUNCHES “CHANGE OF HEART” CAMPAIGN
Program offers alternative support for panhandlers in Kailua Village
[KAILUA-KONA, HI] — Hawaiʻi County announced the start of its new “Change of Heart” campaign earlier
today, which aims to provide alternative support for panhandlers throughout Kailua Village. The program,
supported by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and the Kailua Village Business Improvement District,
along with a myriad of Kona-based human-service-focused nonprofits, aims to direct “spare change” to Hawaiʻi
Island United Way (HIUW) rather than individual panhandlers. HIUW will receive funds from the community
and reinvest the proceeds into programs and services to assist the homeless and others in need. The program will
accept donations and sponsor services year-round.
“The Kailua Village Business Improvement District is proud to work with Mayor Roth and Hawaiʻi County on
homelessness solutions. The Change of Heart panhandling campaign will not only educate residents and visitors
to direct their donations to Hawaiʻi Island agencies that can help to find solutions, but we’re also excited that the
initiative could help to clear the medians of panhandlers and make it safer for everyone,” said Kailua Village
Business Improvement District Executive Director Debbie Baker.
“The homeless crisis is more prevalent in Hawaiʻi than ever. Please consider joining Hawaiʻi Island United Way
in partnership with the County of Hawai’i in supporting the following nonprofit organizations that are helping to
combat the homeless crisis: Hope Services Hawaiʻi, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, West Hawaiʻi Community
Health Center, 808 Homeless Task Force, and Hawaiʻi Rise Foundation. We encourage proactive efforts and
solutions from our nonprofit partners versus panhandling as the latter is enabling. No donation to the Change of
Heart Initiative is too small!”
“Providing vital services to those in need is paramount to creating an island community where we can all thrive
and succeed,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “By channeling spare change to a proven and trusted nonprofit, we are
confident that the money will be better spent and positively impact everyone in the community and not just a
select few. This campaign is about seeking long-term solutions and not temporary fixes to addressing the
growing inequities on our island.”
For more information, residents are asked to visit hawaiicounty.gov/hear