A kickoff meeting with partners—Aloha Harvest, Touch A Heart, and the Hawaii Public Health Institute—was held at Kalihi Union Church last Friday, July 15 ahead of the pilot launch of Aloha Harvest's expanded Meals with Aloha (MWA) project.
You may recall that we've been working with Aloha Harvest throughout the pandemic. This collaboration has provided rescued food to use in our foodservice internship program and funding for the "buy one, get one" Kupuna and Family Meals. We're grateful for the opportunity to work with Aloha Harvest once again, and especially through this effort that will greatly benefit our kupuna.
The MWA project aims to 1) support our low- to moderate-income kupuna in the target areas of McCully-Moiliili, Kapalama-Liliha, Sand Island-Kalihi, Waianae, and Wahiawa by offering them delicious and nutritious meals, as well as health and wellness screenings, assessments, and referrals to other services by community health workers; 2) engage the community through utilization of volunteers for deliveries and engagement and other opportunities to support this effort; and 3) further the missions of Aloha Harvest, Touch A Heart, and the Hawaii Public Health Institute's Kupuna Food Security Food Coalition. Meals will be prepared by our very own Chef Mark in consultation with registered dietician Melissa Pang.
We're starting with an eight-week weekly meal service pilot for 10 preselected kupuna on August 3. During this time, we'll evaluate and make adjustments before opening the program up to more participants in the fall. Please stay tuned for additional information. In the meantime, you may wish to start thinking if you or anyone you know would be a good candidate for MWA. There's no cost to participate thanks to funding from the Hawaii Public Health Institute.
Note: Kupuna and Family Meals will continue as usual; the MWA project is an addition to our offerings.
If you have any questions, please contact info@touchahearthawaii.org or (808) 779-7083.
Introducing Meals With Aloha
