Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, spoke March 12 at Catholic Charities Hawaii’s Ching campus in Honolulu. (Jennifer Rector / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
By Jennifer Rector
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA visited Hawaii earlier this month to see the aftermath of last year’s devastating wildfire in Lahaina and to thank staff members of the organization’s Hawaii branch for their efforts in facing that crisis as well as others across the islands.
Catholic Charities USA was one of the first groups to respond to the tragedy on Maui, providing more than $2 million.
President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson visited Maui on March 9 and 10, spending time with fire victims and members of Catholic Charities Hawaii’s Maui office. Later she met with staff members at CCH’s Ching campus in Honolulu to recount her visit and outline Catholic Charities’ aid priorities.
“This was extremely important from my perspective, because I can read about it, I can talk to people on Zoom or on the phone, but there is nothing like being present,” Robinson said of her Maui stop. “My deepest, deepest sorrow and, gratitude for the people who are helping their neighbors in this healing process.”
“I’m humbled to be in your presence and very, very grateful that you have included me and taking time away from your very demanding days,” Robinson said to the staff on Oahu.
She started off her presentation with an important message from the national office in Washington, D.C.
“Thank you for what you have chosen to do with your lives, for your choosing to be part of the Catholic Charities family, and for being on the front lines to alleviate human suffering in your communities across all of the islands of Hawaii,” said Robinson.
She said the national branch has been impressed by all the work Catholic Charities Hawaii has done for many years.
“You know, since before COVID, all the way through COVID and now contending with this terrible fire and the aftermath — you’re held in very high regard. What is happening here is an example of tremendous hard work and great visionary leadership,” she said.
Robinson said 100% of proceeds Catholic Charities USA has raised for Maui have gone to the cause, and more is to come.
“We continue to raise awareness of it. Just yesterday, we published a beautiful story on the role of Catholic Charities Hawaii in partnership with Catholic Charities USA, in attending to the recovery and rebuilding and healing process in Maui,” said Robinson.
She also shared how Catholic Charities assisted about 52 climate-related disasters across the country in the last year. By spreading awareness of the disaster, alerting locals of danger and raising money, the agency can help people in crisis.
“That’s why I was able to call Rob (Van Tassell, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Hawaii) and say, we can immediately assist you,” said Robinson.
When asked what stood out to her the most about being in Maui, she said it was “how close to the surface the sorrow” was.
“The deep sorrow is on the part of everyone, whether they lost their home or their livelihood or not. The sense of this close-knit community that deeply cares about one another and is so generous to one another, really struck me,” said Robinson.
A charred boat lies in the scorched waterfront in Lahaina after deadly flames tore through the historic Maui city. (Mason Jarvi / handout via Reuters / OSV News)
At the end of her presentation with Catholic Charities Hawaii she invited questions or suggestions she could take back to the national office.
A case manager for one of Catholic Charities Hawaii’s housing projects who gave her name as Stephanie and who had loved ones in Lahaina thanked Robinson for visiting and shared how the people in Hawaii have been affected by the high cost of living.
“Employment is so necessary. Child care is very necessary, but those costs for child care are beyond our needs. It’s beyond the reach of the families I serve. The cost of living makes that so much harder,” said Stephanie.
Stephanie was among several staff members who shared with Robinson about homelessness and families with low incomes.
Robinson responded to Stephanie by thanking her for representing the people she serves and for her leadership.
“This is why it is so important for me to be here, and for me to have gone to Maui, and for me to spend all of my time here deeply listening and engaging with people. It’s to hear that because what you are describing is a justice issue, too,” said Robinson.
“That is part and parcel of the marrow of what Catholic Charities is about. We are not just there to provide mercy and humanitarian aid to people who come before us in need. We are there to call the question, why is it this way and to advocate for justice. I will be taking this back to my colleagues at the national office,” she said.
Robinson took on the role of president in July and said she’s been learning as much as she can from different branches nationwide in the short time she has been in the position.
Since the Maui fires, she said she was put to the test and was able to be in close contact with Van Tassell every step of the way.
Catholic Charities USA has 3,900 locations across the country serving more than 15 million people annually. The organization is nearly 115 years old and helps people of all faiths.
For more information on Catholic Charities Hawaii, visit catholiccharitieshawaii.org.
