LIHU‘E — Even as restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 loosen around the island and state, efforts to provide residents with essential goods and operations continue.
When the Kaua‘i County Council allocated $2 million to battle COVID-19 in March, most of these funds went toward sanitation products, personal protection supplies and operation of the Emergency Operation Center.
According to an expense tracking report, a total of $618,702.15 have been spent in expenditures for these supplies, and $625,591 has gone toward social service groups like the Hawai‘i Foodbank ($156,700), Kaua‘i Humane Society ($20,000), Kauai Government Employees’ Federal Credit Union ($100,000) and E Ola Mau Na Leo O Kekaha ($55,000).
This also includes $200,000 that went to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation for the Emergency Loan Program. This program went on to support 184 Kaua‘i residents.
At its council meeting on Wednesday, the council reauthorized the remaining funds to be used beyond the original date of the emergency ordinance.
Various other county departments have also applied and received outside federal grant funds including the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
On April 24, Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar requested the council to apply and receive federal funds in the amount of $87,170 to be shared with the Kaua‘i Police Department. These funds will in part go toward overtime costs for the Pastor, Police and Pancake Program and sanitization products.
In the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, this money will have gone toward hardware that was used for telecommuting and sanitization equipment for the office.
The Office of Economic Development was also granted permission to apply, receive and expend $300,000 from the Hawai’i Farm Bureau for the Kupuna Kare with Farmer Fare program, which delivers food to kupuna around the island with the help of the Hawai‘i Food Bank.
“I will say one thing collectively for all of these,” Councilmember Felicia Cowden said during the meeting, “I appreciate the effort of each individual office for getting these grants and for doing a good job. I appreciate the effort.”
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
