LIHUE The County of Kauai has launched the Kupuna Kare of Farmer Fare program in an effort to deliver fresh, Kauai-grown produce directly to kupuna.
LIHU‘E — The County of Kauai has launched the “Kupuna Kare of Farmer Fare” program in an effort to deliver fresh, Kaua‘i-grown produce directly to kupuna.
This effort pairs Kaua‘i’s Sunshine Market vendors, the Hawai‘i Food Bank Kaua‘i branch and the county Office of Economic Development and Office and Elderly Affairs. This program will acquire produce from Sunshine Market farmers and distribute to high-risk kupuna over the age of 70 throughout the island.
The AEA will provide intake for kupuna wishing to participate. The OED, part of the Mayor’s Office, will do intake on farmers wishing to participate.
The program will also utilize a partner, the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i branch, to purchase produce from farmers, prepare packages and perform distribution.
To prevent the spread of disease, this program has been designed to be drop-off only, with no interaction between the deliverers and recipients.
“We are pleased to roll out a partnership to support two specific groups — our kupuna who are part of our high-risk population and our county farmers who have been displaced by the Sunshine Markets closures,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami. “This effort shows how the tenacity and innovativeness of our community can lead to solutions that help one another as we enter a very difficult economic time.”
Anyone 70 or older wishing to participate may call AEA, 241-4470. Farmersw wishing to participate may call the OED, 241-4299.
Wait…what? Over 70? That is not the CDC guidelines. It is 60 and over, and people with underlying conditions who cannot go out. Everyone call up and complain about this. An elderly person is not just 70 and older.
get on the phone people and make those calls. this is the most ridiculous thing i have seen yet. so you are trying to make yourself look good, by getting food to old people. except you aren’t. or people that actually need the help. except you aren’t. more weak fluff reporting by the Garden island. Stop promoting this stuff.
Hey Kauazi do you think this is fair? Seniors arent Senniors unless they are 70? The CDC says this
60 0r older, and or with underlying conditions
Most of these people have been told to not go out. So how does this help them? Really, GI get on the ball
What is the “AEA”?
Agency of Elderly Affairs
https://www.kauaiadrc.org/
I am 85
Can you please let us know or someone who does which markets are open and are not. I am mainly using the coconut marketplace on tue and th. Is it open? MAhalo
And does this program need volunteer drivers? Mahalo.
i agree with Higgins! They need to expand the services to ALL that are elderly and at risk and have to stay home, and people with high blood pressure, and diabetes . High blood pressure is the number one reason people are dying from Covid-19, according to a new study put out by China, about who was infected and how and stuff. I am sorry I cant remember where I saw it. Its online. I am getting old. haha.
It said the number one underlying cause for the death of the 60 and over crowd was high blood pressure. All those people need to be isolated from everyone else. So feed them too because they cannot go out! Please, do not neglect other seniors for other seniors this has to be reasonable. This is knee jerk.
Form a better plan for heavens sake! Then i will show up to volunteer, but how can I tell a 69 year old with high blood pressure and diabetes we don’t care about him or her, then hand the 70 year old the food, and the other goes hungry. This is slapdash at best. I do not understand who is in charge of this. I want to talk to them!
There simply isn’t enough funding available to meet all the needs right now. For folks looking for options for low income seniors the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program offers $50 in vouchers they can spend with approved farmers. Info at the bottom of our Buy Local Directory:
http://www.malamakauai.org/mk/kauai-food-systems-resources/
My name was sumitted to this Program in March. No FRESH Produce arrived at my doorstep.
Mahalo.
Joan