Grants open for health projects

Hawaii's Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for grants to fund health-related projects.

Funds will be awarded to projects that involve public health education and research for which funding from other sources is unavailable. Preference will be given to projects that are collaborative efforts.

In the past, grants were awarded to programs that encouraged healthy lifestyles, AIDS education, mental health, cholesterol and diabetes screening, homeless programs, help with disabilities, drug abuse and disease prevention.

Applicants must be nonprofit organizations on Oahu working on public health-related activities.

The application deadline is Dec. 15. To receive an information packet, send an e-mail to the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 545-4300.

Volunteers sought for tax season

Tax season is coming up, and volunteers are needed to help prepare tax returns for seniors, the disabled and others in need.

Volunteers will be taught how to prepare basic individual income tax returns, both state and federal, and to file electronically. Training takes place in December and January. Volunteers are asked to donate some of their time at sites around the state between January and April.

The effort is being coordinated by the AARP, the Hawaii Asset Building Coalition and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

More than 400 volunteers prepared more than 10,000 federal and Hawaii tax returns last year. Volunteers benefit by learning tax law and computer skills, and helping their community.

Anyone can volunteer. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed to help non-English speakers. Local civic and other organizations are invited to participate or host a site.

To volunteer, please contact:

» AARP Tax-Aide prospective volunteer coordinator at 955-5776.
» Hawaii Asset Building Coalition at 677-6929, ext. 25.
» Aloha United Way's Family and Individual Self-sufficiency Program; e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or go to http://www.hawaiitaxhelp.org.

Gift program serves abused kids

The Children's Alliance of Hawaii needs more donors and organizations to take part in its Christmas Angels Project to bring a little holiday joy to hundreds of children who have been victims of sexual abuse.

The alliance distributes cutout “;angels”; to sponsors containing holiday wishes from toddlers to teens so gifts can be bought, wrapped and delivered to the organization before Friday. The program serves children living in poverty who have been sexually abused.

“;The community's support of this project is especially important for these children,”; said Alfred Herrera, president of the alliance. “;It offers a positive message to our victims as they work to recover from their trauma.”;

The alliance is looking for schools, companies, organizations and individuals to take part. With the help of 776 donors, more than 437 abused children were helped last year. To take part, contact Kim Bartenstein at the Children's Alliance at 599-2955, ext. 216, or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), with the number of “;angels”; to be sponsored.