Angel Network, which operates an East O'ahu food bank and thrift shop, is cutting some services after the charity was forced to lay off its paid staff.

Judy Joseph, president of Angel Network, said the three-person staff was let go, but the organization's work will continue using volunteers, which now number about 19.

While the group no longer will be able to provide social worker services, such as case work and applications for emergency aid, the food bank and thrift shop giveaways of clothing will go on, helping an estimated 450 people. However, the annual Christmas party has been put on hold — recipients are being funneled to the Salvation Army's Lokahi project.

Joseph said the cutbacks were necessary after the organization received less state and federal money, as well as fewer donations this year.

"When we couldn't make payroll, all of a sudden we realized, hey, this isn't working," Joseph said. "We really thought long and hard and are very saddened by it, because we had a lot of good people working for us. We just couldn't keep it up."

Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church offers space for the organization, founded by the late Ivy Olsen, whose story about meeting an "angel" as a down-hearted single mother spawned the Angel Network. It went on to earn not only local but national acclaim, including being named a Points of Light awardee by two presidents.

"Ivy Olsen was a close friend of mine, and I feel like she kind of bequeathed this to me," said Joseph. "... I feel like it's my mission to keep it going. I was truly blessed to have been such good friends with Ivy. She was an incredibly inspiring woman to so many."