MALAMA KAUAI

INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION - PROVIDING EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FUNDING TO FARMERS, WITH A FOCUS ON SMALL TO MEDIUM AND MINORITY FARMERS: THROUGH VARIOUS SUBSIDIZED FEEDING PROGRAMS, WE HAVE AGGREGATED AND DISTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LOCAL FOOD FOR PRODUCERS ISLANDWIDE; HELPED TO DISTRIBUTE 215,000+ IN GRANTS TO 40 INDIVIDUAL FARMERS FOR FOOD SAFETY UPGRADES, ALONGSIDE THE LARGEST FOOD SAFETY TRAINING SUCCESS ON KAUA'I TO DATE; FISCALLY SPONSORED 2 LARGE GRANTS FOR FARMER GROUPS FOR WATER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT: MOLOA'A IRRIGATION COOPERATIVE AND WAIOLI VALLEY TARO HUI; DEVELOPED THE ALOHA 'AINA WORKFORCE PROGRAM WHICH PLACED 24 DISLOCATED WORKERS FOR 14 WEEKS OF PAID TRAINING AT 15 SITES IN CONSERVATION AND FOOD SYSTEMS; 50% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE OFFERED JOBS IN THEIR NEW FIELD BY PROGRAM END; LAUNCHED THE MOLOA'A 'AINA CENTER FOOD HUB PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOLOA'A IRRIGATION COOPERATIVE, KAUAI'S LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF COMMERCIAL FARMS (CURRENTLY IN EARLY CONSTRUCTION PHASE. INCREASING FOOD ACCESS - FOCUSING ON THOSE MOST IN NEED, BY RESPONDING TO BOTH IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND STRATEGIZING FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE LOCAL FOOD ACCESS: VILLAGE HARVEST GLEANING COLLECTED 12,000+ LBS OF FRESH PRODUCE AND DONATED IT TO >12 FOOD BANKS, PANTRIES, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH SUPPORT FROM >150 VOLUNTEER HOURS; DISTRIBUTED 600 FOOD TREES AND OVER 1,000 PLANT MATERIALS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEM TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD; COORDINATED A QUARTERLY KAUAI FOOD ACCESS MEETING WITH CORNERSTONE ORGANIZATIONS SERVING KAUAI'S HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS INCLUDING FOOD BANKS/PANTRIES, ELDERLY SERVICES AGENCIES, SNAP OUTREACH CENTERS, AND OTHERS; DISTRIBUTED 22,481+ FREE CSAS/GROCERY BOXES IN 2020, FEEDING 53,444 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CONSTANTLY-PIVOTING PROGRAM MODELS TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S EVOLVING ANTI-HUNGER NEEDS DURING COVID.