Cooperative Extension is pursuing a variety of ways to help communities and stakeholders hit hard by the pandemic. On Moloka‘i, food security is paramount. The largest grocery story on the island (one of only three large grocery stores total) is under a 14-day quarantine, and students who depended on free or reduced-price school lunches are struggling.
Extension agent Glenn Teves is hard at work on short- and long-term solutions. He advocated for using school buses to deliver food to bus stops, so families and youth don’t have to travel far from home for groceries. Based on his recommendation, the kitchens of schools on both ends of the island are now open to make lunches for pickup.
Glenn is also responding to the many requests for vegetable seeds from past participants of Extension’s home gardening program. He is making available all of the seed he and the program have made, and now he’s processing more seed. As supply allows, Glenn will expand distribution to include other members of the community. He leaves the seed in a box outside the Extension office and spaces the pickup times in order to maintain social distancing. He’s also updating articles on gardening for a brand-new generation of gardeners—like his recent one on choosing the best garden site. Mahalo, Glenn!