HONOLULU (HI Now) - Kūpuna’s needs are complex and require a hui of support. Hawai’i Meals on Wheels (HMoW) goes beyond simply delivering nutritious meals. They provide care coordination and advocacy to help sustain homebound kūpuna as they age in place. Earlier this year, Eleanor, 85, who lives alone and struggles with memory loss, reached out to HMoW. Unable to stand without pain, she was in desperate need of meals. Volunteers began delivering emergency meals made possible by HMoW’s community-funded safety-net program. After months of advocacy, Eleanor now receives five government-sponsored meals a week and can also maintain her independence by using transportation services. HMoW also arranged for a public health nurse to help her manage her medications.
The demand for home-delivered meals and social support continues to rise, prompting HMoW to further expand their services to care for those like Eleanor. They receive 135 calls and bring on 25 new clients every month. By year end, they expect to deliver more than 180,000 meals to 1,000+ individuals on 80 routes across O’ahu!
Here’s how you can help! You’re invited to Hawai’i Meals on Wheels’ 5th Annual Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Fundraiser. For $250 supporters will receive a ready-to-eat meal pack at the Hawaii Okinawa Center on Thanksgiving Day. Pick up between 9 AM and Noon. Click here and be the first to order your feast before we’re sold out!
As part of this year’s fall benefit, generous supporters, including First Hawaiian Bank, Par Hawaii, the Pettus Foundation, The Queen’s Health Systems, and UHA Health Insurance, have offered to match every gift up to $55,000! That means every $1 you give will be matched to become $2 through Thanksgiving. Together we can raise $110,000 to help more kūpuna!
Funds raised will help help Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels provide home delivered, medically tailored meals to kūpuna to meet their specific nutritional needs. Only because of the generous community’s support are we able to offer discounted and fully-sponsored meals to those who do not quality for traditional government programs.
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Knowing there are incredible needs throughout our island communities, thank you for remembering homebound kūpuna.
To make a gift to Hawai’i Meals on Wheels, visit hmow.org/thanksgiving or call (808) 988-6747.
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