The Springs of Living Water Foundation formerly known as the Springs of Living Water, is a faith-based non-profit organization that provides services, trainings and programs to enhance and sustain stability of individuals and families for self-sufficiency as well as to contribute to the economic development of the community.
The Springs of Living Water was initiated by a group of 13 women volunteers with the purpose of addressing problems and concerns confronting families, the neighborhood and the community under the Ministry on Missions and Social Concerns of the Brethren of Christ International church.
The Group started its services through the Food Pantry Project, distributing food and clothing to the needy of Oahu’s Leeward area since 1995. The organizer/founder of the group, Victoria L. Almosara, having been aware of the Immigrants and Welfare Reform Law; those immigrants can no longer avail of Public Assistance as they come after August 22, 1996 and DHS benefits will be cut off from participants after having been in the program for 5 years, mobilized the group and formalized it. It started to draft and formulate its Vision and Mission to address the needs of the newly arrived immigrants and families on Welfare.
The 13 founding members of the group started to pool their resources together through membership fees and individual contributions. They also solicited in-kind donations from non-members like used computers, sewing machines and office supplies. The 13 founding members were Victoria L. Almosara, Dolores O. Almosara, Merian O. Almosara, Lydia Baas, Emma Banaticla, Ruth A. Banes, Benny Rose Castillo, Florence Faith A. Jose, Judith Kidd, Clarence Matibag, Shirley Sanchez, Sara A. Tiburcio and Lorenza Love Tomas.
In March of 1996, the group started to conduct Community Training programs like Basic Computer, Sewing, Lei Making.
On May 14, 1999, after having identified issues and concerns which was triggered by the Columbine School campus shooting incident in April 1999, the group decided to register as a separate non-profit organization. The original main issues and concerns identified were:
- The degenerating moral and spiritual values of the youth
- The alarming overspending of families and dependency on credit cards in meeting emergency needs.
- The frightful plight of newly arrived immigrants in coping with the demands of life in U.S. especially with the enforcement of the Immigrants and Welfare Reform Law.
- Concern for the indigent families, orphaned/abandoned children, and the elderly and the homeless.
The Springs of Living Water was awarded a Letter of Determination as a Tax-Exempt Organization under section 501 C (3) of the IRS on June 15, 1999. It’s official date of effectivity was on May 14, 1999, with Victoria L. Almosara as the Founder and President.
The Faith, Hope & Love Child Care & Learning Center was finally approved and licensed by the Department of Human Services to officially operate under the Springs of Living Water to provide a Christian-Montessori integrated curriculum to initial 30 children between the ages of 2 to 5 years old.
Currently, Springs of Living Water Foundation has four (4) major programs; 1. The affordable pre-school program through the Faith, Hope and Love Child Care and Learning Center, 2. Food Pantry and Hot Soup Kitchen, 3. Commercial Kitchen Facility and 4. Paraiso Children House of Refuge.
