Big Promise of Little Things
NOURISHING YOUTH SUCCESS When a Hawai‘i Island food service program suddenly announced it was ending operations, many on the island were concerned.
Change Comes From Everyone
That’s when Kona Pacific Public Charter School (KPPCS) stepped up, becoming the only educational organization in Hawai‘i to operate a community “When children are food service. engaged in growing Since 2015, the something themselves, school’s WHOLE they eat their vegetables!” Foodservice program has – Gretchen Ramirez provided almost Development Director of Kona 35,000 lunches to Pacific Public Charter School at-risk youth and other vulnerable community members. “We deliver food to affordable housing complexes, canoe clubs where at-risk youth gather, and other schools,” says Gretchen Ramirez, KPPCS’ Development
Director. “We started Hawai‘i’s first mobile summer lunch program. Otherwise, hundreds of kids would go hungry.” Located in the town of Kealakekua, with deep roots in agriculture, KPPCS focuses on environmental education and community sustainability. “We weave in math and science objectives to our gardening curricula; the first graders practice counting as they place seeds in the holes,” says Ramirez. “It’s fun, hands-on, and they’re learning fundamental knowledge, like how
to grow food. When children are engaged in growing something themselves, they eat their vegetables!” Along the way, KPPCS has received $100,000 over nine years from the Kukio Community Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF). This fund supports education and youth development on the island and it allows Kukio community members to pool their gifts for greater impact. “Kona Pacific is a community resource. They are teaching keiki, feeding youth and community members, and nurturing the ethos of Hawai‘i Island,” says Dawn Zierk of Kukio Community Fund.
“HCF is visionary in issues affecting Hawai‘i and the unaddressed needs of nonprofits,” Ramirez adds. “For example, USDA reimbursement for food programs doesn’t cover the full cost. Charter schools don’t receive state funding. So without HCF, we could not provide the services so critical for our community.” Feeding our most vulnerable, teaching children farm-to-table sustainability, addressing the community’s unmet needs — that’s the big promise of little things.
DID YOU KNOW:
- Community Fund The Kukio is one of 97 funds at HCF that have been created by givers to specifically support Hawai‘i Island Communities.
Learn how to transform your generosity into lasting change at HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org