Happy Feet for Families February 20, 2019

When Archdeacon Steve Costa saw Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) President Jan Dill speaking to KITV about the importance of Early Childhood Education, he felt a pull to do something for the organization.

Costa works for the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Kalihi, Honoulu. He previously worked with feeding the puʻuhonua at Waianae Boat Harbor and recognized our Ka Paʻalana program.

St. Elizabeth’s had recently come into possession of a large quantity of slippers donated by KC Hawaii. The slippers were referred to Costa through ʻIolani School alumni and the school’s chaplain.

Dill was speaking at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol building during the annual ʻEleu Rally, which brings together nonprofit organizations dedicated to Native Hawaiian early learning and family education. Other organizations present included Keiki O Ka ʻĀina and INPEACE.

During the ʻEleu Rally, the Ven. Costa was also in the building working to better our communities. He was there for prison reform. “Keiki need all the push they can get,” Costa said. He made the decision to donate the hundreds of slippers to PIDF.

About 250 pairs of the slippers will go to Tūtū and Me families on Oʻahu, with the rest going out to Ka Paʻalana families and other Tūtū and Me sites on Molokaʻi and Maui.

When asked why PIDF was chosen to receive the slippers, the humble Archdeacon said simply, “I feel you do good work.”