Kaiser Permanente has recently granted $50,000 to the largest non-profit in Hawaii, Aloha Harvest, expanding its “Meals With Aloha” program to address food insecurity.
In Hawaii, about 1 in 10 people face hunger. Additionally, 48 percent of Hawaii families with children are food insecure, according to a 2021 study by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
That said, data shows that 237,000 tons of food—or 26 percent of the available food supply—is wasted annually.
The nonprofit works to get quality excess food to people rather than shipped to landfills.
By coordinating with local food producers, farmers, distributors, and donors, Aloha Harvest has been able to rescue food to nourish and deliver it to households throughout Leeward Oahu, the organization said.
Throughout the grant period, Aloha Harvest and its partners intend to link residents experiencing food insecurity to support programs and resources.
Aside from helping individuals access a sustainable source of nutrition, the assistance will also provide residents with health and wellness checks, counseling, and help with enrollment in public assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Access to affordable, healthy food is foundational to the physical and economic health of our communities,” John Yang, MD, president, and medical director at Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, said in a public statement. “We’re honored to support Aloha Harvest and help families get the nutrition they need to thrive.”
Plenty of evidence proves that food insecurity impacts health in numerous ways. However, the ripple effect of food insecurity can also worsen income losses and economic standings.
Additionally, the social determinant of health can create a cycle of health inequity that puts patients at a greater risk for health-related missed workdays and overnight hospitalization, a Health Affairs study suggested.
Food insecurity and work absenteeism create a negative cycle; missed work leads to lower earned income, which can produce further food insecurity challenges.
“It is important to consider the possible occurrence of a vicious cycle, whereby food insecurity contributes to worsened health and the consequences of worsened health contribute to insecurity when assessing the relationship between these two factors,” mentioned the researchers of the Health Affairs study.
Additionally, cost concerns associated with medical care frequently cause patients facing insecurity to forgo care needs.
“New and creative approaches to addressing insecurity may help break this cycle,” the researchers advised. “Because medical and social factors are intertwined, policy approaches to improve health for adults with diabetes should address not only healthcare but also social circumstances, such as food insecurity, that affect health. When weighing the costs and benefits of proposed interventions, policymakers should consider potential benefits related to productivity in addition to implications for healthcare use.”
Source: PatientEngagement HIT
