Youth Food Summit kicks off Saturday
The Hawaii Youth Food Council is hosting We Grow Hawaii: a Youth Food Summit from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 and April 24. The goal of this youth-led, online conference is to inspire increased youth involvement in the development of Hawaii’s self-sustaining community food systems.
This free virtual conference features presentations, panels, and interactive sessions presented by youth and adult leaders working to grow Hawaii’s food security and food self-sufficiency. All are welcome to attend and engage in conversations about the future of Hawaii’s food systems.
Register at https://we-grow-hawaii-a-youth-food-summit.eventbrite.com.
Elks Club grants supports Books for Babies program
The Kona Elks Club recently awarded its Gratitude Grant funded via $2,000 from the National Elks Foundation.
The entire amount went to support the Friends of the Library Kona’s Books for Babies program. The program ensures that every baby born at Kona Community Hospital is given a book bag containing a book and various pieces of literature explaining the importance of reading and talking to a baby to enhance brain and language development.
With the grant money, the club purchased 1,000 book bags and 2,000 Little Lives Matter postcards. They also donated $700 to the library to purchase board books for the program.
SNAP Replacement Benefits deadline extended
HONOLULU — The Department of Human Services, in coordination with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, announced an important update to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Replacement Benefit deadline.
Due to recent flooding and landslides, the new deadline to submit applications has been extended until April 14. In addition to the deadline extension, more districts impacted by the flooding have been added to the eligibility list.
A SNAP Replacement Benefit is a replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was destroyed in a household misfortune such as the recent flooding and landslides that occurred in March throughout the state. The amount of the replacement must be equal to the amount of the food loss and not exceeding the amount of the monthly benefit issued to the household.
DHS is accepting SNAP Replacement Benefits applications for SNAP households residing in the following Big Island areas, which includes the additional districts: South Hilo, Puna, Keaau, Mountain View, Pahoa, Hakalau, Hilo, Pepeekeo, Waikoloa, Kailua-Kona, Na‘alehu and Pahala.
SNAP recipient households in the listed areas who were affected by the recent flooding and landslides are eligible to apply by contacting their assigned processing center, by visiting www.humanservices.hawaii.gov and clicking on Statewide SNAP (Food Stamps) and Financial Assistance Processing Centers, or by contacting the public assistance information line at (855) 643-1643 or http://pais.dhs.hawaii.gov.
Once applications are reviewed, validated and approved, benefits will be issued.