KOLOA — Rep. Dee Morikawa was protecting the bags of food when a passing shower softened the heat of the Farm-to-School CSA bags distribution, Thursday morning at the drive-through fronting the Koloa Public Library and the Koloa Elementary School.
“Can’t let the bags get wet,” Morikawa said while Joell Edwards, the Malama Kaua‘i Farm-to-School coordinator tried to get her away from the windward side of the tent.
The Farm-to-School CSA Bags containing fresh local produce from island farmers and producers come in handy during the break of the Grab-and-Go breakfast and lunch offerings presented by the state’s Department of Education. The free meal program for students ended with the final week of school and will resume starting Monday as the summer program gets underway.
Helping Morikawa with the added items to the CSA bags, Naomi Francisco, a student at the Kekaha Elementary School, tended to extra huli, provided by Malama Kaua‘i, and Kunana goat cheese that was given away as an optional add-on to the food package. Additionally, boxes of disposable face masks were also available for those in need.
“Most of the products are balanced from the areas where the packages are being distributed,” Edwards said “As an example: the produce is from farmers in the region where the food is distributed.”
Aloha Aina Poi Company donated ulu, kalo and lu‘au leaf for the event, and bananas came from the Kapa‘a Banana Company.
The CSA bags, starting distribution from 11:30 a.m. until pau, are distributed at five sites — Mondays at the Kilauea Elementary School, Tuesdays at Kapa‘a High School, Wednesdays at the King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School, Thursdays at Koloa School, and Fridays at the Kekaha Elementary School. The program started May 18.
“We are at about a thousand packages a week,” Edwards said. “We do 200 bags at each of the five sites.”
With Francisco helping Morikawa with the Thursday distribution, the Representative will be helping at Kekaha School when its distribution starts at 11:30 a.m., Friday.
“I literally cried when I opened my first bag,” a mother who walked to the distribution site said. “I was so happy with what was in there…a lot of healthy food. Today, my tire blew off the already-bolo tire so I ended up walking. And, I’m coming back next week, too.”
David Thorpe, the Koloa Library Branch Librarian, helped the crew, referring a grandmother who has 26 grandchildren to get some food to help feed the ‘ohana as he juggled the limited services offered by the library, and the packing of food packages in the same conference room.
There is no documentation needed for the food — just the need. Simply visit any of the five sites from 11:30 a.m. until supplies are exhausted.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
