Na Ho‘omaka Hou gets help

KAPA‘A — Appointments for Na Ho‘omaka Hou Pop-Up Food Distribution by the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch at the Bryan J. Baptiste Memorial Sports Complex has already filled up ahead of the Thursday drive-through food distribution that starts at 10 a.m. for 300 households.

Earlier, the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch hosted Na Ho‘omaka Hou Pop-Up Food Distribution at the Waipa Foundation in Hanalei on March 4 with support from volunteers.

“Without the support of our volunteers, we would not be able to carry out our important mission of making sure no one in our ‘ohana goes hungry,” said Tisha Ruiz of the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch. “Mahalo to all the helping hands from Hawaiian Airlines, the St. Raphael’s Church, and all of the individual volunteers.”

“The founder of Kaua‘i Food Hub Pauina Barsotti provided Community Supported Agriculture bags that included a selection of fresh vegetables and fruits,” Ruiz said. “Not only did Paulina donate the bags, she insisted on volunteering her time and helping distribute all foods to recipients — ensuring they got everything.”

Funded through a grant from the Kaua‘i United Way, Na Ho‘omaka Hou Pop-Up Food Distribution pushed out more than 5,200 pounds of food for up to 200 households. Recipients received the donated CSA bags along with banana, lettuce, eggs, break, chicken, and packaged bags that included an assortment of canned goods and snack items.

Following the Thursday Na Ho‘omaka Hou Pop-Up Food Distribution, the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch will gear up for the Kekaha distribution that is scheduled for April 1 at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center from 10 a.m. for 300 households having appointments.

Appointments for this distribution will open from 9 a.m. starting March 25 at https://hawaiifoodbank.org/kauai-pop-up/.