HAWAII FOODBANK
Hawaii Foodbank
Confronts
COVID-19
COVID-19 has affected us
all in some way, but it’s hit
especially hard for Hawaii
Foodbank, whose mission is
to “provide food so that no
one in our family goes hungry.” Since the
state’s “stay at home, work at home” order
was implemented on March 25, Hawaii
Foodbank has seen the demand for food
assistance climb by more than 60 percent.
Even before the pandemic, the organization
was regularly meeting the nutritional
needs of one in eight Hawaiian residents
struggling with food scarcity. Now, the
demands faced by the organization are even
more dire.
Since the arrival of COVID-19 in mid-
March, Hawaii Foodbank has spent more
than $4.25 million in total food purchases
and distributed over 9 million pounds of
food to families in need—far outstripping
its annual food budget of only $400,000.
In March alone, distributions totaled 1.5
million pounds of food versus the usual
1.1 million. In April, distributions soared
above 2 million pounds; in May, above 3
million pounds; and in June, approximately
2 million pounds. The demand for
supplemental food aid continues to far
outstrip the agency’s budget.
Since 1983, the nonprofit Hawaii Foodbank
has collected, warehoused, and distributed
food through approximately 200 charitable
agencies on Oahu and Kauai. It also
partners with The Food Basket to serve
Hawaii County and with Maui Food Bank
to serve Maui County. The organization
works with food donors, charitable agencies,
and the hungry in Hawaii to collect, inspect,
store, and dispense donated and purchased
food. Last year, Hawaii Foodbank
distributed more than 12.5 million pounds
of food, including 3 million pounds of fresh
produce.
Not only has demand for food increased
exponentially due to the pandemic but
incoming supplies have also dwindled.
“Physical food donations have slowed down
to a trickle—largely in accordance with the
‘stay at home’ order and other public safety
guidelines,” says Ron Mizutani, president
and CEO of Hawaii Foodbank. “In order
to keep our supply on pace with demand,
we’ve had to make emergency food
purchases like never before.”
As a result, the organization has begun
cultivating new partnerships with Hawaii
Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Longline
Association, and other groups to provide
immediate support to local farmers,
ranchers, and fisherman, while also
distributing food to communities in need.
Hawaii Foodbank also has collaborated
with the city and county of Honolulu,
Hawaii Community Foundation’s Hawaii
Resilience Fund, and the Bank of Hawaii
Foundation to deploy several large-scale
food distributions. “These innovative
solutions are paramount to maintaining
the flow of food to people in need,” said
Mizutani.
In addition to finding new sources for
donations, the Foodbank has revamped
its operations to help slow the spread
of COVID-19 and increase safety for its
employees, volunteers, and recipients. In
accordance with guidelines of national,
state, and local health authorities,
Foodbank’s “best practices” have included
increased cleaning and sanitation, and
enforcement of social distancing measures.
They have also implemented new
distribution methods, including prepacking
food boxes and implementing drivethrough
pickups to more efficiently serve
large groups of people while maintaining
social distance.
“We have taken many precautions to help
make sure that our food and product
remain safe, our distributions and volunteer
activities continue, and, ultimately, our
communities maintain access to the food
they need while preventing the spread of
COVID-19,” said Mizutani.
Hawaii Foodbank is deeply grateful for
the steadfast support it has received from
the community despite the increased
uncertainty created by the pandemic.
“While COVID-19 has created some tension
and tested Hawaii’s resiliency,” Mizutani
noted, “it has also shone a spotlight on our
community’s generosity, and for that, we
are incredibly thankful.” +
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