#Jennifer Karaca

Launched in 2019, the Foster Farm Program exists to encourage land to be shared to maximize the use of limited space on a small island. By harvesting from existing trees and distributing the produce on behalf of landowners, the program ensures that the community is nourished and no food goes to waste.

More than 250,000 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce has been harvested and redistributed across Maui through Common Ground Collective’s Foster Farm Program to date. By transforming surplus backyard produce into a critical food source, the program is quickly reshaping the island’s approach to food security, resource management and sustainability.

ʻUlupalakua Ranch reminds community members to mark their calendars for a day filled with ono food, photos with Santa and holiday shopping among local vendors at its Christmas in the Country festival, a full day of festivities on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Jennifer Karaca, the founding executive director of Maui nonprofit Common Ground Collective, has been honored with the District 50 Hawai’i Lions’ Humanitarian of the Year.

The Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation has awarded a $155,000 grant to the Maui Emergency Feeding Taskforce, a grassroots community effort coordinated by Common Ground Collective.