Sponsors sought for homeless parking program
The West Hawaii Faith-Based Hui to End Family Homelessness is looking for churches and faith-based organizations to sponsor families through the Homeless Safe Parking Program.
Families will need access to restrooms and parking facilities at night.
To learn more about the program, contact co-leader Heidi Teraoka via email at hteraoka6@gmail.com or by calling (808) 331-8777.
Public school students to receive free meals
All students at Hawaii’s 257 public schools will receive free breakfast and lunch meals for the entirety of the 2021-22 school year, thanks to a nationwide waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The waiver aims to minimize the possible spread of COVID-19 at schools across the country by eliminating meal payment transactions in school cafeterias, settings where students and cashiers may not be able to maintain proper social distancing. Federal funds will reimburse state education departments for meal costs.
Parents and guardians who have not yet purchased meal credits for the upcoming school year via the EZMealApp mobile app or through their school do not need to take any action. Those who have already purchased meal credits in advance may choose to leave funds in the account for the following school year or contact their child’s school to request a refund.
Students will only receive meals at their school of enrollment. One meal per breakfast session and one per lunch session will be free of charge. Additional meals or meal items taken at the same session will be charged a normal rate.
Parents are encouraged to continue to submit their Free and Reduced Price Lunch Meal Benefits applications online using the EZMealApp mobile app or at www.EZMealApp.com, where applicable, as information derived from the application directly impacts eligibility for other school programs, such as bus transportation and Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food assistance.
For more information, contact the School Food Services Branch at (808) 784-5500.