It’s easy to be overcome by the crush of a busy holiday — and political — season. That’s when a bit of happy news provides blessed relief: The 29 homeless seniors getting a glimpse of their future studio units, now under renovation, is one such story.

They soon will move into the McCully building from their encampments or their cars; one is attending college to become a professional who helps other addicts. Their tales of survival, told in Friday’s paper, bring Christmas warmth that’s truly needed.

Help patch sidewalks, city vacancies

Sidewalks on both sides of Waikiki’s Kuhio Avenue, stretching from Liliuokalani to Ohua avenues, are now safer for strolling, thanks to a volunteer effort to mend crumbling, cracked and lifted segments. Last week’s patching, which involved 20 volunteers, was organized by a Honolulu Hale volunteer program, Malama o ka ‘Aina — a public-private partnership that allows the community to help the city care for the land.

Unfortunately, the city needs a lot of help. There’s a 43% vacancy rate in the city’s division of road maintenance. For more information about volunteer opportunities, call the Department of Facility Maintenance at 768-3606.