HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0158.043 2024-2026P /5. Counci
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From: Carlee Gillespie
Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 10:13 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Supportive testimony memo 1
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Carlee Gillespie, and I am speaking in strong opposition to the anticipated budget cuts in memo 1
both federal and county. These budget cuts threaten to weaken or eliminate funding for The Food Basket &
Kokua Harvest, an essential program for thousands of individuals and families in our community. We have been
serving the most vulnerable members of our population and cannot turn our backs on them now when food
prices are rising. Now more than ever our community is struggling.
Cutting The Food Basket & Kokua Harvest would have immediate and painful consequences. Children will go
to school hungry. Kupuna will skip meals to afford medicine. Working families will fall deeper into crisis.
These cuts won't "save money" they will increase costs to hospitals, schools, social services, and emergency
services. Hunger doesn't disappear it just becomes harder and more expensive to ignore. We cannot afford that
burden, and neither can our community.
I stand with our underserved communities. Those too often overlooked, yet essential to who we are. I stand for
equity and that no one in our community should go hungry. I urge others to take this stand and invest in our
people. Protect The Food Basket & Kokua Harvest.
Respectfully,
Carlee Gillespie
Kokua Harvest South Kona Harvest Lead
Carlee@hawaiifoodbasket.org
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