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The Maui News

A weekly program providing breakfast and lunch meal kits to children in rural Hawaii communities is seeking cash donations from the public to help fulfill an overwhelming need for summer meals.

Launched earlier this month, Kaukau 4 Keiki is a public-private partnership that provides weekly meal kits for children ages 18 and under. The program runs through July 31 and includes food access coordinators on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii island.

Families located in ZIP codes starting with “967” can sign up to receive a meal box for their keiki online or call 211 if they don’t have access to the internet. Community organizations will contact the families on the designated date and deliver a box of fresh veggies, fruits, meat and grains or provide designated pickup hours.

However, because funding is extremely limited, applications are no longer being accepted in certain areas, while others have started waitlists, according to Blackletter Group, which is providing marketing services for the program.

Without financial contributions and community support, families will wait weeks or longer for much-needed nutritious meals. Donations can be made online at kaukau4keiki.org.

The state Department of Education is also offering a Summer Meals program for children ages 18 and under, regardless of enrollment status. On Maui, Iao and Kihei elementaries as well as Kalama, Lahaina and Lokelani intermediate schools are participating.

The program runs until July 19 and makes lunchtime distributions of one lunch and one breakfast for the following day per child. Parents can contact their nearest participating school for more details.

For more information, visit hawaiipublicschools.org/ ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/Summer-Meals-Program-begins-June-4-for-all-children-ages-18-and-younger.aspx.

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