With the reopening of the state after shutdowns mandated by local government in recent months, kūpuna and other vulnerable people have become more fearful of venturing out into the community to shop and run errands as the coronavirus continues to spread with more people out in public. The demand for food, supplies and assistance has grown in response to unemployment. An increasing number of kūpuna say they do not have sufficient resources to feed themselves.
Help Is On The Way
To address these issues, Gregory R. Kim cofounded Help Is On The Way in March 2020, a nonprofit grassroots organization that offers free pickup and delivery service on O‘ahu to help meet the needs of kūpuna who are restricted to their homes, those who are quarantined and individuals with medical conditions in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Services are Simple to Use
Pickup and delivery items include groceries and household goods, prepared and frozen meals, farmers’ market produce, toiletries, prescriptions, appliances and other deliverables. Typically, Help Is On The Way clients order and pay for groceries, and volunteers pick them up and deliver them. (Volunteers do not shop or handle money.) The organization also guides clients to other agencies and resources that might assist them.
The organization has also stepped up to help with Hawai‘i’s food security needs with its own food drives in partnership with Central Union Church that collect nonperishable food and toiletries. Angel Food Network volunteer drivers across O‘ahu have a ready supply of bags of food for quick delivery upon request to kūpuna and others.
How to arrange a pickup and delivery
STEP 1: Place an order by calling a store, pay, get a confirmation number.
STEP 2: Contact Help Is On The Way to request delivery of your order. (Delivery may take one to two days.)
STEP 3: Volunteers will deliver your items to your location.
Help Is On The Way is a member of the Kupuna Food Security Coalition managed by the City and County of Honolulu, Elder Care Division; and the Aloha United Way 211 network. Contact Help Is On The Way for a delivery, to make a donation or to sign up as a volunteer, through the information provided below.
HELP IS ON THE WAY
1926 Kakela Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822
406-426-1013 | hihelpisontheway@gmail.com
www.hihelpisontheway.org
Help Is On The Way also connects those who cannot afford food with programs and organizations that can help.
