“Ethel is a kupuna who comes every Wednesday to Kalihi Union Church with her daughter Sharon to pick up her meal set. I always greeted them with a smile and ‘hello’. On my last day, I told Ethel I wouldn’t be seeing her for a while. She asked me why. I told her that I was leaving to go to prison because I had done something bad. Ethel told me everyone does bad things and asked if she could come with me. I explained to her that she couldn’t come but promised that I’d be back to see her soon. I was left in tears. I felt so valued as a person because Ethel saw me for who I really am—not a convict, not a criminal, not a bad person—but a friend and a human being.”
— Leslie, Touch A Heart graduate and employee
Will you partner with us to continue what we’ve started?
Our Kupuna and Family Meals are a way for people from different backgrounds to build lasting friendships, a chance for our interns and apprentices to give back to the communities they once took from, and an opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together in service of our kupuna (elders). At Touch A Heart, we believe that communities in Hawaii are restored and rebuilt through the redemptive impact of those previously incarcerated. Since March 2020, our Kupuna and Family Meals have been available for purchase and donation. Nearly all of our meal recipients (90%) are elderly, and others purchase for their elderly parents. Over 65% of our customers receive meals on an ongoing, weekly basis. Nearly 80% of recipients are female. Additionally, over half (55%) of our customers are homebound and have their meals delivered to them by one of our volunteers. THE CHALLENGE Costs of nearly everything, including food, have risen and have also caught up with us. This year alone, the actual cost of each 3-meal set is $10 more than what we’ve been charging, meaning we’re not earning any profit or breaking even; instead, we’re losing money. Although we’ve been well aware of this for some time, we chose to keep the cost of our meal sets at $25.50 for the past two and a half years to make them affordable for both customers and donors. We’ve been actively fighting increased food costs by:
- controlling the portions of our meal sets,
- seeking support from foundations to cover the costs of some of the meals that we donate to ensure that no meal is ever without a home,
- partnering with Aloha Harvest to receive excess high-quality ingredients, although despite this partnership, we still have a gap to fill to cover our expenses.
OUR ASK
We humbly ask for your kokua (help) with achieving our goal of raising $20,000 to offset a portion of the cost for these meals. Your contribution will:
- Ensure our Kupuna and Family Meals are affordable for everyone, especially our elders.
- Keep our kitchens running by creating/retaining jobs and training opportunities for more people with barriers to employment, like Leslie. Together, we can help these individuals redeem themselves by being of service to the community and create even more unlikely pairs.
Blessings,
Robin Kumabe
Executive Director