Tag Archive for: NCS

News: October Newsletter ↯

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Aloha

This month, we’re excited to share updates about our new kitchen, our partnership with Happy Opu, and how you can support our work as we expand to serve more of our community. As we settle into our new home, our mission as a Maui Non-Profit Organization to nourish and uplift Maui continues to grow.

HHH - Maui Hungry Heroes

Here’s what’s been happening at Hungry Heroes Hawaii:

Impact Since August 2023 Fires

Produce Distributed: Since August 2023, we’ve delivered over 178,158 pounds of fresh, locally sourced produce, equating to 356,316 meals for community members in need.

Meals from Our Kitchen and Partner Kitchens: Through partnerships with Hua Momona, Niu Life Kitchen, and Story Cafe, we’ve prepared and served 100,033 meals. A huge mahalo to our kitchen teams and partners!

 

Moving Into Our New Kitchen!

Central Kitchen for HHH at Happy Opu

We are thrilled to announce that we’ve officially moved into our new kitchen space! After a year of rapid growth, this location provides an open prep area and a full commercial kitchen, allowing us to continue nourishing the Maui community. We’re grateful to Anuhea Chapel for their partnership and excited for this new chapter with Happy Opu, whose mission of health and wellness complements our work.

Stay tuned for more details about our collaboration with Happy Opu!

Help Us Outfit Our New Space

To maximize efficiency in our new kitchen, we need additional equipment, including a larger refrigerator for fresh produce. Please support us by contributing to our updated Amazon Wish List.

Or support us directly through GiveButter.

Lahaina is in the Heart: Supporting the Filipino Community

At a recent meeting hosted by Kaiser Permanente, challenges facing the Filipino community after the wildfires were highlighted, including displacement, food insecurity, mental health issues, and limited access to federal aid. Language barriers and the need for culturally appropriate food further complicate these challenges. We are committed to working with local organizations to address these needs.

Shoutout to Pohaku Park: A Refuge for the Westside Community

Pohaku Park - S-Turns Relief HubSince August 2023, Pohaku Park has provided essential support to the Westside community. Run entirely by volunteers, this hub ensures access to fresh produce and other essentials for those affected by the fires. We are grateful for the dedication and heart these volunteers bring to the community.

Thank You for Your Continued Support!

Your contributions—whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word—are the foundation of our mission. As we settle into this new chapter, we are filled with gratitude for the community that makes all of this possible.

Mahalo nui loa,
Sara Yamtich & the HHH Team

News: August Updates

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As we close a month marked by the somber anniversary of last year’s wildfires, our resolve to nourish and heal Maui intensifies. August has been a period of deep reflection, a celebration of new beginnings, and a steadfast commitment to sustainability and resilience.

NOTE: As of September 12th, 2024 we have closed our Anuhea Chapel Location. We have opened a new Central Maui Kitchen in Kahului. Stay tuned for more updates!

Inside Happy Opu
60 E Wakea Ave
Unit 101
Kahului, HI  96732

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DVwgBfF2prk1hB9YA

Maui Non Profit

Here’s a snapshot of our impact since the fires in August 2023:

  • Produce Distributed: We have distributed over 144,416 lbs of produce! This comes to 288,832 meals delivered since the fires to those who need it.
  • Financial Investment: We’ve invested $524,397 in procuring and distributing produce and meals from our partners, underlining the critical support needed to maintain our efforts.
  • Meals from Partner Kitchens: Our kitchen efforts have resulted in 99,833 meals prepared and served to those in need. Partner kitchens include Niu Life, Papis Ohana, Anuhea Chapel, and Hua Momona. (Huge mahalo to our partners!)

New Website Launch

Maui Charity

We’re thrilled to unveil the newly redesigned Hungry Heroes Hawaii website, crafted with care and expertise by co-founder and visionary, Naim Ferguson. Embodying our ethos, “Feed Hope & Nourish Maui, From Farm to Hungry, with Love!” the website serves as a vibrant portal for connection and engagement. This dynamic platform details our history and philosophical foundations, featuring a timeline that traces HHH’s journey from its roots to its current expansive impact.

It includes heartfelt insights from our Executive Director Rachel Tarver in a personal letter, echoing our commitment to the community’s foundational needs and the spirit of Aloha ‘Āina. Explore comprehensive sections dedicated to our purpose, partnerships, and the numerous ways you can support our mission—whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word. Each page is infused with the depth and history that define HHH, making it a valuable resource for both locals and supporters afar.

Dive into our digital world where community care and sustainability intersect, and see how we’re turning compassion into action. Visit our new website and join us in nourishing bodies and souls across Maui. https://hhhmaui.org/

Empowering Our Team with MEO Support

Maui Fire Response Non Profit

We are thrilled to share a significant advancement in our workforce development, made possible by Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO). Through their invaluable support, HHH has been able to bring ten dedicated individuals onto our team. These hires are more than staff; they are vital members of our community who now enjoy greater economic stability as they contribute directly to our mission. This partnership with MEO not only enhances our operational capacity but also enriches the lives of those who work with us, allowing us to extend our reach and deepen our impact across Maui.

Each team member’s role is critical in delivering the essential services that define our commitment to nourishing and supporting our community. We are grateful to MEO for their role in this transformative collaboration, which underscores the power of local alliances in fostering sustainable community development. Reflecting on a Year Since the Wildfires This month marked the anniversary of the August 8th, 2023 wildfires, a day that deeply affected our community and landscape. As we honor this day, we invite everyone to reflect on the resilience of the land and our community.

This is a time to support each other, engage in stewardship, and transform our grief into proactive change for a sustainable future. If you’ve felt the call to do more, now is your chance to help us move from crisis response to long-term resilience. Every little bit helps. Consider setting up a recurring donation through GiveButter. Even $10 a month can make a huge difference in sustaining our programs. Set up your donation here. And if you’re on Maui for a day or a lifetime, your hands and heart can help nourish and uplift those in need. Join our ʻohana of volunteers! Learn more and sign up here.

Maui non profit grant

We are thrilled to share some inspiring news from our Executive Director, Rachel, about our latest collaboration with Kaiser Permanente! As new grantees of Kaiser’s community programs, we are immensely grateful for their commitment to healing and wellness.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in our mission, aligning with our goals of recovery and resilience. Kaiser’s support is not just a gesture of faith in our work but a crucial aid in these challenging times. We look forward to the dynamic advancements this partnership will bring to our programs and the broader Maui community.

Stay tuned as we unfold the impactful initiatives born from this exciting collaboration!

Partnership Spotlight: Maui Rescue Mission

Maui rescue mission non profitThis August, we are excited to announce our new partnership with Maui Rescue Mission (MRM), a vital resource dedicated to serving Maui’s houseless community. Every week, Hungry Heroes Hawaii delivers nourishing meals to MRM, ensuring that individuals seeking their services also receive a healthy meal. Maui Rescue Mission is committed to offering essential support and hope, providing services such as safe shower facilities, email access, free counseling, and more.

They are a sanctuary for those who have fallen through the cracks, facing challenges like substance abuse, mental health issues, and chronic illnesses. Together with MRM, we’re not just feeding bodies; we’re nourishing spirits and reinforcing a network of care that uplifts and empowers.

Learn more about their impactful work and how they’re making a difference at Maui Rescue Mission. This collaboration represents our shared dedication to healing and supporting our community, emphasizing that together, we can provide more than just meals—we can offer hope and transformation. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

 

Thanks for supporting Maui

Your support, whether through time, donations, or spreading the word, is invaluable. Together, we are making a difference. Every donation, every hour volunteered, and every word of support contributes to the strength and resilience of our community. We are immensely grateful for your continued partnership in our mission. Warmest aloha, Sara Yamtich & the HHH Team

News: July Updates ↯

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  • Major need for donations/funding to support our new project: Feeding Fire Survivors in NCS/Hotels
  • Volunteers Needed ASAP
  • Anuhea Meal Prep, Upcountry Drivers, Hua Momona Farms, Lahaina Meal Prep, West Side Produce Runs
  • Volunteer links updated
    SIGN UP HERE>>
  • Join Our Newsletter >>

Coming up this month:

  • New website coming online!
  • Podcast with Lahaina community leader John Web: Discussing Housing

Maui News: United Way Maui NCS Food Program

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KAHULUI–The Maui United Way announced Wednesday they have provided emergency stop-gap funding in the amount of $150,000 to a myriad of organizations, according to a press release from the United Way.
The project has been led by Common Ground Collective (CGC), according to the United Way.

The United Way stated that “CGC is dedicated to feeding vulnerable fire-impacted families on Maui’s West Side and providing a boost to local farmers.”

Common Ground Collective’s Maui Fire Relief Feeding program is a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations, including Hungry Heroes Hawaii (HHH), Hua Momona Foundation (HMF), and the Westside Community Resource Hubs (NapIli Noho and Pohaku Park Hubs). Together, these organizations are dedicated to supporting the feeding needs of fire survivors who face challenges accessing meals in the aftermath of the devastating Maui fires.

The Maui Fire Relief Feeding program consists of two parts: Meal Provision for Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) Program Participants: This part of the program serves 121 individuals with prepped and packaged meals who rely on the NCS program for dinner but lack transportation to access other meals.

The second part of the program consists of the “Community Feeding Initiative”. The initiative supports approximately 11,105 fire-impacted individuals monthly, supplying produce, non-perishable items, and other essentials to those in need, according to the United Way.

“The Maui Fire Relief Feeding program exemplifies the power of collaboration and community support in times of crisis. Through the collective efforts of CGC and its partners, essential food assistance is being provided to fire survivors, ensuring they receive the support they need during this challenging period.”</span> Maui United Way Board Chair, Shanda Vangas said.

“The need for food assistance in the wake of the Maui fires has been significant and enduring, especially with the reduction of feeding services by other players. The sudden scaling back of these services left a gap that our community has been desperately working to address. I am grateful to the Maui United Way Board of Directors for moving quickly to help fill the puka so families can continue to have access to nutritious, culturally appropriate meals grown by Maui farmers.” said Jennifer Karaca, founding executive director of the Common Ground Collective.

“For years, Common Ground Collective has been a steadfast partner of Maui United Way. Previous grants since the fires have helped CGC and its hui allowed them to serve over 230,000 hot meals, 15,000 food boxes and deliver hundreds of thousands of pounds of food items to west side hubs daily, including fresh produce and proteins from local growers and suppliers.” said Makana Rosete of the project, who is the community impact coordinator for the Maui United Way.