• Editor’s note: This story was inspired by a question received via our COVID-19 Q&A series contact. Because of this story, the county is working on informing all waitlisted kupuna of their status. If you have a question or tip, please share them with us at tinyurl.com/TGIQ-A. See A4 for today’s COVID-19 Q&A.
LIHU‘E — When the Kupuna Kares for Farmers Fares program was announced last month, the county anticipated serving about 500 kupuna each week with fresh produce deliveries.
When applications closed on April 3, they had more than doubled that, with 1,228 kupuna enrolled. Of that, 194 kupuna had to be waitlisted.
Marjorie Wartman, 77, is on that waitlist. She called the program on March 20, the day it opened, to enroll. She left a voicemail and didn’t give it much thought after that. When the weekend passed and she hadn’t heard back, she called again.
“That was my first clue they probably had a lot of responses,” Wartman said of the conversation she had the county Agency on Elderly Affairs.
Wartman has participated in a few produce-box subscriptions from local farms, but those were on the more-expensive side. She was excited when she saw the Kupuna Kares for Farmers Fares program, which is specifically geared toward those ages 70 and up as a way to ensure high-risk elderly didn’t have to go out to grocery stores during these times.
She didn’t hear anything for another few more days, so she followed up. After that, somebody called to ask her a few qualifying questions. She called again a few days later and was told she was on the list.
But she didn’t know she was on the waitlist. The county is beginning the process of notifying the 194 kupuna on the waitlist of their status, a spokesperson for the county said.
“To date we have serviced 1,406 kupuna, which means some of them have already received their second bag,” a spokesperson from the county Office of Economic Development wrote in an email Thursday.
Enrolled kupuna are split into two groups based on where they live, and will receive a delivery every other week.
“If an unforeseen circumstance arises and deliveries can’t be made, the kupuna will be notified,” the spokesperson said. Kupuna will also be notified when their delivery is on its way.
Boxes contain a variety of fresh produce that have contained a mix of lettuce, cabbage, squash, cucumbers, green beans, pumpkin and papayas in the past.
The program is a joint effort of the OED, which is responsible for enrolling the Sunshine Market farmers, and the AEA was responsible for kupuna intake.
Wartman doesn’t mind being on the waitlist, she said. She’s all stocked up on groceries, and said this is a great service the county is offering to those in need.
The people being helped “are probably like myself but need the help more,” she said. “I can wait.”
Those looking to volunteer to assist with deliveries or warehouse help can call Wes Perreira at the Hawai‘i Food Bank Kaua‘i branch at 482-2224.
•••
Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
Why does the TGI leave out vitally important facts about this program, which is not being administered through the county, but by a private contractor based on Oahu? Warning to everyone: This service is ONLY for 70 year olds or older. According to the social security administration, you are eligible for social security, or considered a senior, from 62 and over. Also, the program does not consider in the factors of those who are compromised and should not be going out at all. Those with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, ect. They need help as well. These people are not being served whatsoever. If you are 60 or over, you are also a Kupuna!
The CDC guidelines are that anyone over 60 is at high risk to contact Covid 19. So WHY ISN’T THE PROGRAM HELPING 60 AND ABOVE? and those with comorbidity?
Maybe because they are having trouble just servicing those over 70? Or did you not see the part about the wait list?
Would be nice to know what the “… few qualifying questions “ are too. Would likely save them some time too.