All you have to do to get free beef stew, rice, fruit, vegetables and juice is sign on the dotted line. The “self-certification” involved in the Kaua’i Economic Opportunity surplus food distribution next Wednesday simply means that people must attach
All you have to do to get free beef stew, rice, fruit, vegetables and juice is sign on the dotted line.
The “self-certification” involved in the Kaua’i Economic Opportunity surplus food distribution next Wednesday simply means that people must attach their name to a document stating that they are below certain family income limits, which are posted at the distribution sites.
And if several members of the same household take turns signing and collecting more than one share of the two cans of beef stew, pears, green beans and orange juice and two bags of rice offered to each person, they likely won’t even get questioned, said Lynn Kua, Kaua`i Economic Opportunity (KEO) administrative officer.
“If someone feels that they need the food that desperately,” they won’t be denied it, she said.
The distributions will begin at 8 a.m. at KEO’s Lihu’e office at 2804 Wehe Road, near the Kaua`i County Water Department office, as well as at the Hanapepe Recreation Center and Kapa’a Neighborhood Center. All distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis, and at Hanapepe and Kapa’a, all the food will be given out by 10 or 10:30 a.m., Kua said.
Those picking up food are asked to bring their own bags or other containers to carry the goods. The items listed for distribution may change, depending on availability.
Every two months, KEO gets enough of the U.S. Department of Agriculture surplus commodities shipment to feed 420 families at least for a few days.
KEO is looking to expand the program, with planned distribution sites in Kilauea and perhaps Waimea, Kua said. Getting volunteers or paid staff to spearhead the distributions keeps the sites limited to three for now, she added.
Any food left over from the bi-monthly distribution is brought back to the KEO main office, where it is available weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for those not able to make the regularly scheduled distributions.
KEO also maintains an emergency food pantry for immediate food needs, also at its main offices. Additional information is available at 245-4077.
Staff writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) and mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net
