Sip Tea For Charity

Christmas time in Central Oahu means presents, carols, cookies and charitable giving through the enjoyment of tea and other tasty temptations.

Each year at this time, Wahiawa United Methodist Church hosts its annual Christmas Tea fundraiser for the Susannah Wesley Community Center of Kalihi.

The center was created in 1899 with a $500 grant from the National Home Mission Society (today’s United Methodist Church) to provide English and sewing lessons to Korean and Japanese immigrant women working in the plantations.

Since then its community service efforts have grown to include programs for children and adults such as education, counseling, substance abuse help and even human trafficking.

The goal of each program is to help promote self-sufficiency for individuals and family among some of the “most forgotten and neglected” members of the community, and “those missed by traditional social services.”

As tradition dictates, out-reach committee members will transform the church social hall into a Christmas wonderland with holiday décor, music, and a bunch of savory treats and delicious tea served table side on fine china.

Tickets are $17 and are available at the church office at 1445 California Ave.

Tea time is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 14 and 11:30 a.m. Dec. 15.

For more information contact Rosie Dowson at 429-8315, Flo Maruyama at 349-5694, or the church office at 622-4361. But do so soon, as the tickets go quickly.