HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Tuesday, June 17, KHON2 will be hosting a donation drive for the local nonprofit organization Residential Youth Support & Empowerment (RYSE) as part of an annual company initiative called Founder’s Day of Caring.
From 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on June 17, KHON2 will be accepting donations along Waimanu Street, near Ala Moana and the KHON2 news station. Volunteers will be accepting donations of the following items:
- Toiletries, including
- Shampoos, conditioners, hair gel, hair mousse
- Toothpastes, toothbrushes, dental floss, mouthwashes
- Shaving creams, razors
- Soaps, hand sanitizers
- Sunscreen, facial soaps, moisturizers, lotions
- Hair clips, hairbrushes, combs, picks, hairties
- Cotton swabs, cotton balls
- Tampons, sanitary napkins, menstrual cups
- Hygiene bags
- Backpacks
- Dufflebags
Additionally, KHON2 volunteers will be making sandwiches on June 20 that will be distributed throughout RYSE centers in Honolulu.
What is RYSE?
RYSE offers shelter services and a youth access center in Kailua to people between the ages of 14 and 24. The drop-in services are free, and RYSE is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. seven days a week.
“Our goal is to provide safety and help youth get off the streets, so that they can live and thrive as healthy, happy young adults,” RYSE explains.
The organization offers services including housing programs, counseling, GED classes, financial literacy classes, and more.
Learn more about RYSE on the organization’s website at rysehawaii.org.
What is Founder’s Day of Caring?
KHON2 is owned by the company Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Each June, the company has its Founder’s Day of Caring, with Nexstar employees around the country volunteering in their local communities with various charities.
In 2023, Nexstar reported that 5,700 employees volunteered more than 17,500 hours for Founder’s Day.
“The choice of which organizations to support is made at the local level, and covers a wide range of charities and social service agencies,” Nexstar says.
For Founder’s Day 2025, KHON2 selected the non-profit RYSE as its beneficiary. In past years, KHON2 has worked with the Boys & Girls’ Club, Salvation Army and helped with a beach clean-up for Founder’s Day of Caring.