Members of St. Anthony Church donated clothing and other items to Maui Economic Opportunity’s Being Empowered and Safe Together or BEST program that supports recently released inmates. Shown are (front row, from left) Ron Cremer, BEST specialist; Bishop Pahia, former BEST specialist; Monsignor Terrance Watanabe; Pat Pahia; Uilani Ah Chan, BEST specialist; (back row) Wesley Ah Chan, Wesley Chiumai and Father Larry Dennis III. Photo courtesy MEO

St. Anthony Church has donated clothing, footwear, backpacks and other items to support Maui Economic Opportunity’s BEST program, which helps people transition back into the community after their release from incarceration.

“Many of those released from jail or prison have only the clothes on their backs, nothing else,” said MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe. “MEO’s Being Empowered and Safe Together, or BEST program, assists these folks with life’s basic essentials, to get them on their feet and to give them the chance to rebuild their lives as law-abiding citizens.”

Cabebe thanked St. Anthony for the donation that will assist BEST staff Uilani Ah Chan and Ron Cremer in their work.

“Having these items on hand helps the many who just stop by our office when they have no family, no assistance and nowhere to go to get something as simple or small as slippers or a backpack with toiletries,” Uilani said. “It means everything to them.”

St. Anthony Church donated clothing, footwear, flasks, backpacks and other items of MEO’s BEST program. Photo courtesy MEO

In addition to offering clothes and other items, BEST connects clients to resources; helps get them into transitional housing and sober living facilities; enrolls them in anger management, substance abuse and cognitive skills restructuring programs; offers transportation to appointments for ID restoration, job interviews and training; and provides support and counseling.

BEST staff also go into the Maui Community Correctional Center to conduct classes to assist with reintegration and begin the paperwork for restoration of ID and other needs upon their release.

Funded by the county, MEO’s BEST program assists about 150 individuals annually.