Kūpuna Food Security Coalition releases Request for Proposals for projects serving Kauaʻi County, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County

The Kūpuna Food Security Coalition (“KFSC”), administered by HIPHI, is now accepting proposals for Kauaʻi County, Maui County, and/or Hawaiʻi County that leverage lessons learned in the KFSC After Action Report (tinyurl.com/KFSCafteractionreport) to: 1) address immediate food insecurity needs among low-income kūpuna, and 2) build up long-term capacity of community-based food and support systems that sustain kūpuna health and support aging in place.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 10 older adults (kūpuna) were food insecure, and that number has grown. Hawaiʻi ranks 4th in the nation for the largest percent change in food insecurity at 50% (Feeding America, 2020). Food insecurity has negative impacts on health across the lifespan, but particularly for kūpuna who are more likely to have underlying health conditions. Access to fresh, nutritious food that meets kūpuna health needs is further impacted by factors like limited mobility, transportation, access to congregate meals, need for medically-tailored meals, having a fixed or limited income, and competing financial priorities such as medication or medical expenses. As the kūpuna population continues to increase, food insecurity is a growing issue that must be met with long-term, sustainable solutions.

This grant is made possible by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and complements separate funding for Oʻahu-specific initiatives to address kūpuna food insecurity both in the short- and long-term. These grants are intended to work together to address food insecurity, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, among low-income kūpuna statewide.

Proposals are due on November 1, 2021 at 5:00PM HST. Anticipated awards will range between $40,000 and $120,000, with $238,128 available to distribute in total. For more information and to apply, download the RFP, review the FAQs or contact kupunacoalition@hiphi.org.