HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) has announced a partnership with Servco Pacific Inc. (Servco) to install nearly $200,000 worth of appliances at public schools across the State. All appliances will be donated by Servco Home & Appliance Distribution. The program will largely focus on washer and dryer donations to schools with high populations of students living in unstable housing situations. The donation is part of Servco’s $1.5 million Centennial Service Campaign.
“School should be a safe space where all students feel a sense of belonging and have equitable access to opportunities regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status,” said superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “Mahalo to Servco for their generous donation that will help our most vulnerable students and their families have access to resources that will help them take care of some of their most basic needs. That way, they can focus on their educational goals.”
“Clean clothes should never be a barrier to a child’s education,” added Rick Ching, president & COO of Servco. “We hope these donations can help alleviate some these issues, so our keiki can just be kids, and focus on what matters most: their education.”
Servco’s recent donation to Central Middle School is one of many planned donations to install new washer and dryer units at public schools. The donation to Central Middle alone is valued at $9,000 and includes other appliances such as ranges, hoods, and refrigerators installed in the school’s Takai Transition Center, which aims to provide a safe and stable foundation for newly-arrived students and families to acclimate into their new community.
Special guests from HIDOE joined Servco representatives at Central Middle to officially announce the donation. Team Serve, Servco’s employee-led community service committee, also volunteered to spruce up the Transition Center.
A portion of the $200,000 appliance donation will also go to help curriculum enrichment, including new kitchen appliances for Campbell High School and Roosevelt High School’s culinary programs; and a special education program at Moanalua High School.
The $200,000 appliance donation program is part of Servco’s $1.5 million giving campaign to celebrate their 100th anniversary. For more information on Servco’s centennial celebrations, please visit www.servco.com/100-years.