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Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs May 29, 2024

Kaukau 4 Keiki is first come first served for free summer food, with signups online starting Thursday.
Photo from Kaukau 4 Keiki

SIGNING UP FOR KAUKAU 4 KEIKI BEGINS THURSDAY AT 8:30 A.M. for Kaʻū, exclusively online through Vibrant Hawai'i. It is first come, first served and usually fills up quickly, serving those families most savvy with the internet who have access to filling out the form online. 
Shelf stable foods are provided weekly through Kaukau 4 Keiki
 with help last year from Pahala Food Hub Captain Marlene Freitas.
. Photo by Julia Neal
    The free food program runs in Kaʻū and Volcano from June 19 through July 25.
    There is no selection of individual families by need. All of Kaʻū is considered low income with free school meals for all students.                  According to USDA guidelines, any family getting free meals when school is in session can apply to sign up for Kaukau 4 Keiki unless getting free USDA meals elsewhere during the summer break.
    The online registration form notes that "Space is limited and filled on a first come, first served basis, using the timestamp of when my registration was submitted" online. 
    Kaukau 4 Keiki is a U.S. Department of Agriculture free summer food program that seeks to provide nutrition that many children need and routinely receive during school through free school breakfast and lunch programs. Keiki can be up to 18 years of age, up to 22 for the disabled. 
    Vibrant Hawai'i administers the program across the island for 5,000 recipients at 32 locations. 
    For Kaʻū, the Vibrant Hawai'i website lists the pick up days and sites as Wednesdays at Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences from noon to 3:30 p.m., at Pahala Hongwanji from noon to 12:30 p.m., and at Na'alehu Resilience Hub from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.  The free food pick up at Ocean View is at St. Jude's Church on Thursdays from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.      
     Families who miss any two pick up days during the summer program will have their names removed and their food given to families on the waitlist. Those who don't arrive during the pickup time will also have their food given to families on the waitlist.
    The online application requires families to agree to "not receive summer meals from another USDA Summer Meal program, such as Summer Fun or DOE meal sites; this is considered 'double dipping' and is against USDA rules and regulations."
     The food baskets include shelf stable and fresh foods with menus. 
    
Fresh vegetables come with the free food that aims to replace free meals at schools during the summer break through
Kaukau 4 Keiki, last year with youth volunteers.  Sign up starting Thursday. Photo by Julia Neal
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT RAINFOREST RESTORATION program resumes in June at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Protect native ecosystem by removing non-native plants like invasive Himalyan ginger from rainforest. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required for people under the age of 18. Visit the park website for additional planning details: https://www.nps.gov/.../planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.
   The next opportunities are June 22 and 28, 7:45 a.m. to noon. Meet Jane and Paul Field outside at Kīlauea Visitor Center.

Two volunteer visitors hold clippers above a thicket of invasive Himalayan ginger.
NPS photo by Janice Wei
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
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