The Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice is working on a project addressing hunger issues in Hawaiʻi.

Using census data, the center estimates nearly 17,000 people over 60 in the state are “at risk for hunger”—and that was before the pandemic.

Daniella Spoto heads the project and she says many seniors face food challenges from mobility issues to dietary restrictions.

And there’s another factor that’s increased in recent months: social isolation.

“Even before the pandemic, seniors might be at higher risk for social isolation due to limited transportation options but this has been exacerbated,” she said. “Seniors fear venturing out in public for food. They’ve lost connection to their long-established food resources; things like community gatherings, going to church, or—for households with seniors and children—that relied on free or reduced price meals. With schools closed, they’re feeding their children three meals a day, whereas before it was only dinner. Things like that are really contributing to the increase in food insecurity.”