KILAUEA — Families with children that have been impacted by the ongoing battle against COVID-19, and the weekend storm are encouraged to drive through Common Ground at 4900 Kuawa Road in Kilauea to pick up free bags of produce.
Starting at 10 a.m., today, each vehicle with a youth aged 18 years old and under in the car will be given produce bags distributed to the vehicle window by a volunteer team that has been previously screened. The food will be provided until 1 p.m., or until it is gone.
“Forty-eight percent of students at the Kilauea Elementary School qualify for free and reduced lunches,” said Sonrisa Stepath, the Kilauea School PTSA president. “These children are now only able to get food in Kapa‘a and most families cannot travel there twice a day. I am so happy to be able to help distribute fresh produce for the kids who live near Kilauea.”
The Kilauea School PTSA is among the joint effort between the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch, Malama Kaua‘i, Common Ground, and many other volunteer groups that will continue to offer this resource next week Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, if they are able to.
“We hope to continue this as long as food is available to help increase food access for our North Shore communities,” said Joell Edwards, Malama Kaua‘i’s Farm-to-School and Keiki Food Access coordinator. “Right now, everything is supported by community donations and volunteers which means we are operating on an as-available basis. Resources are very slim, but we are doing our best.”
Malama Kaua‘i will post updates on the program availability and continuation on its social media accounts and website.
Malama Kaua‘i is also fundraising for a Keiki Community Supported Agriculture delivery program for youth whose families do not have access to transportation to get to existing resources.
Families who are financially able to are encouraged to utilize the Malama Kauai Local Food Connector information hub to purchase from local farmers’ offerings such as home CSA deliveries. For information, visit www.malamakauai.org/mk/kauai-food-systems-resources.
Information: 828-0685, ext 23.
