Food insecurity in Hawaiʻi County reached an all-time high during the COVID-19 pandemic with 1 in 8 residents facing food insecurity. Data show that 40% of residents are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE), with at least 60% of East Hawai‘i residents classified as ALICE. Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car’s Kūpuna Resilience Program, or “Kūpuna Market,” aims to not only supply healthy food to our Kūpuna but also help them thrive!
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
- Enrolled Kūpuna Market members (seniors age 60 and over) will receive a $40 voucher bi-weekly to purchase local produce, bread, dairy, frozen meat, and non-perishable pantry items through Hawai’i Farm-to-Car, our weekly e-commerce market.
- Kūpuna members can shop online anytime from Friday morning through Monday afternoon and choose products from over 45 local farmers. After checkout, they can simply drive through to pick up their groceries between 3pm and 6pm on Wednesdays at the Puna Hongwanji in Keaʻau. It’s just that easy!
- Hoʻōla Farms staff will work with Kūpuna to educate and assist those eligible for SNAP benefits, which will increase their bi-weekly grocery budgets. In addition to being able to order the Hawaiʻi Farm-to-Car market, enrolled Kūpuna will also be able to purchase a Kūpuna Market Box featuring a variety of items for a set price bi-weekly.
- A 3rd-party Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) will enroll and assist Kūpuna participants, administering intake and wellness visits on a rotating schedule and collect information to better understand the needs and eligible Kūpuna may have for other support programs.
