LIHUE — Entering the fourth year of Feed the Keiki during school breaks, The Musubi Truck is anticipating the need for Spring Break — starting March 15 through 19 — by upping its goal to include 10,000 meals.
“This is our fourth year running this program, and each year, the need continues to grow,” said Kelly Kakalia of The Musubi Truck. “Our goal is to feed 10,000 meals over Spring Break, ensuring that those who rely on free or reduced school lunches don’t go hungry while school is out.”
Kakalia said for many local keiki, school breaks can mean uncertainty about their next meal.
“At The Musubi Truck, now with three locations in Kapaa, Nawiliwili, and Koloa, we are working hard to change that,” she said. “Through our Feed Our Keiki program, we provide free, nutritious meals to kids across Kauai during school breaks.”
But The Musubi Truck ohana needs help from the community and diners at the local delicacy.
As a suggestion, the Musubi Truck figures that a $25 donation feeds five keiki, and a $50 contribution feeds 10 kids. Contributions can be made online at themusubishop.com.
“Your contribution makes a direct impact,” Kakalia said. “This year, The Musubi Truck has made the meals for keiki even healthier. Each meal now includes a musubi with Spam or tofu option, a Clementine citrus, and an Honest Juice.”
Kakalia said she should reword the feeding to 10,000 meals.
“Yes, 10,000 meals is totally doable,” she said. “There are nearly 6,000 students enrolled in just the public schools in the Kapaa, Lihue, and Koloa area. This does not include the charter schools in those locations. With our partners, we can easily drive these meals to nearby neighborhoods and hand out hundreds in a matter of an hour. If we fed just these keiki twice within the span of the week-long school break, that amounts to more than 10,000 meals.”
The Musubi Truck’s community partner network includes the public schools, social workers, pediatricians, the Keala Foundation, churches, the Kauai Skate Ohana, and others.
For more information or help, visit The Musubi Truck website at musubishop.com.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
