Group Continues Fight Against Hunger
An estimated 800 needy people across the state recently benefited from the continued fight against hunger, smiling broadly at receiving turkey dinners in Hawai`i.
Lt. Governor Aiona volunteers to feed needy families in Hawai`i.
The annual event, called “Thanksgiving of Hope,” was organized by volunteers from the Kau Kau Wagon, the Hawai`i-based anti-hunger hunger group supported by Lt. Governor Aiona.
The outreach comes at a time when food banks across the state report feeding nearly 132,000 people annually, including about 32,000 children and 14,000 senior citizens.
Last year, the Lt. Governor led an effort to eliminate a barrier to preparing meals for the homeless.
Under the rules adopted by the Lingle-Aiona Administration, organizations and individuals that prepare free meals for the homeless are exempt from certain Department of Health permit requirements.
Before the rule change, anti-hunger groups had to prepare meals in a Department of Health permitted kitchen. “As a result, we saw a sharp decrease in the number of organizations willing to provide meals to the homeless,” Lt. Governor Aiona said.
