Food drive fights heart disease
The American Heart Association and Hawaiian Airlines are supporting food access organizations in Hawaii by hosting a food drive until Monday, Jan. 30.
According to AHA, those who face food insecurity are at a higher risk for chronic conditions due in part to the consumption of foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients.
Hawaii’s statewide network of food banks are prioritizing programs and initiatives to provide healthier food options to the communities they serve.
The food drive is a part of AHA’s Heart of Hawaii campaign, a year-round health effort culminating at its annual Heart Ball.
Hawaiian Airlines is supporting the healthy food drive and serves as an example for other companies to host their own drives, according to an AHA press release.
Healthy foods collected during the food drive should follow AHA’s nutritional recommendations, including foods that are low in saturated fat, low sodium and have no added sugar.
These foods are the highest in nutrition and contribute the nutrients that are most beneficial in avoiding the development of chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke, according to AHA.
Some examples of healthy foods include, unsalted nuts, dried or no-sodium beans, water, powdered milk, whole wheat pasta, whole grain cereals, natural granola bars, brown rice, and canned vegetables with no added sodium, soups with low or no sodium.
On the Big Island, items for the food drive can be donated at The Hawaii Food Basket locations at 40 Holomua St. in Hilo and at 73-4161 Ulu Wini Place in Kailua-Kona.
To learn more about engaging in the Heart of Hawaii campaign by hosting a healthy food drive, or to learn more about the Heart Ball, visit ahahonolulu.ejoinme.org, or contact Jady Ojiri at jady.ojiri@heart.org.
To donate to the American Heart Association, visit heart.org/donate. The website also provides a healthy food donations guidance document.
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Seniors qualify for scholarships
Kaiser Permanente’s Health Equity Scholars Program aims to develop healthier communities by helping young leaders achieve their dreams of going to college and pursuing a career in the health care field.
Graduating Hawaii high school seniors can apply for a $2,500 scholarship now through Feb. 8. Scholarship recipients will be announced in June, with awards distributed at the end of 2023.
Scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors who plan to enroll in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university or community college for the 2023-2024 academic school year.
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 weighted scale and demonstrate an interest in pursuing a clinical (physician, pharmacist, practitioner, nurse) or nonclinical (accounting, business administration, finance, human resources, marketing, operations, public policy) career in the health care industry.
Preference will be given to students with demonstrated financial need and/or are from underrepresented communities.
For the 2022-2023 school year, scholarships were awarded to 40 students from across Hawaii.
According to a 2022 report by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, the state’s need for health care professionals has grown by 76% since 2019. Opportunities that encourage students to pursue careers in health care will help remove barriers that may otherwise discourage students from pursing clinical professions.
To learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s Health Equity Scholarship Program and to apply, visit https://kp-health-equity-scholars.hsfts.net/scholarship.
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