With demand for assistance increased nearly six times during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Food Basket, Hawaii's food bank, moved into action to help keep local families fed.
Chelsea Takahashi, DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks manager with The Food Basket, told Big Island Times that they have served approximately 14,000 unduplicated, low-income families per month prior to the pandemic.
COVID-19 changed that dramatically.
“In 2020, we serviced, on average, over 80,000 unduplicated low-income individuals per month through free Ohana Food Drop distributions island-wide,” she said. “We also partner with over 100 soup kitchens and food pantries who receive food from us and distribute to their communities.”
Takahashi said that, with Hawaii reporting the nation’s highest unemployment rate during the pandemic and community need escalating, they began coordinating monthly Ohana Food Drops at sites across the island.
"[The food drops] distributed free food to families and individuals, including non-perishable canned goods, starches such as rice and pasta, prepared meals and fresh fruits and vegetables,” Takahashi said. “We coordinated 102 Ohana Food Drops in 2020.”
However, meeting those needs comes with significant costs, she said.
“As a result of the increased demand for food and operational efficiencies of packing uniform sets of food for mass distribution, The Food Basket has had to purchase most of the food we distribute through the Ohana Food Drops,” Takahashi said. “There is an ongoing need during this time of economic recovery for financial donations to purchase food, which we accept at our website hawaiifoodbasket.org/donate.”
Volunteers are always needed to help prepare food drop boxes, she said. Anyone interested in helping is encouraged to contact via email at sara@hawaiifoodbasket.org.
Founded in 1989, the mission of The Food Basket is to end hunger in Hawaii. Additional information about making donations or receiving help can by found at Hawaiifoodbasket.org/faq.