Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island currently provides daily, healthy meals after school to Hilo youth. For many, it is the last meal they have for the day.
The organization recently was awarded $25,000 in support of the program from the Max and Yetta Karasik Family Foundation. The funds will be used to expand this essential Nutritional Support Program to BGCBI sites in Keaau, Pahoa, Pahala, Ocean View and Kealakehe.
One in 5 Hawaii Island children live in poverty. Twenty percent of BGCBI participants come from households with an income of $10,000 or less. Ninety-five percent of the youth served are from underrepresented minority populations and 58 percent are Native Hawaiian.
It is through the generosity of community-minded organizations that the Big Island’s youth will have greater access to the supplemental nutrition and positive programming.
The estimated annual cost of meals for all the youth at all of BGCBI’s sites is $400,000. To help, donate by visiting www.BGCBI.org.