Frequently asked questions

Answered by a team member at Hawaii Foodbank

• What is your mission?

  Hawaii Foodbank works to ensure that no one in Hawaii goes hungry. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we have provided food assistance in Hawaii for more than 35 years. Hawaii Foodbank is a certified member of Feeding America, and a partner agency of Aloha United Way and Kauai United Way, working together to strengthen our communities.

• How are donations used?

  For over 35 years, Hawaii Foodbank has provided emergency food assistance to island residents in need through regular feeding programs and partnerships, and during natural disasters such as the recent floods on Oahu and Kauai.

  In fiscal year 2018, our Oahu warehouse received a total of 12.9 million pounds of perishable and nonperishable food, including 2.7 million pounds of fresh produce and nearly .5 million pounds of purchased foods. The donated and purchased food reached 1 in 8 island residents in need through a range of established distribution programs: 50% through Ohana Produce Plus program, 34% through partner agencies including community food pantries, 6% through Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), also known as the "Senior Food Box Program," 2% through shelters and soup kitchens, 8% through other programs.

  Below is a summary of our distribution programs and the numbers served:

  Ohana Produce Plus- For over 20 years, we have partnered with member agencies to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs and dairy products. In fiscal year 2018, Hawaii Foodbank and 29 partner agencies distributed 2.5 million pounds of donated and purchased fresh produce, and 3.5 million pounds of baked goods, dairy products, eggs, and snack and non-perishable foods in communities island-wide. There are more than 50 of these public community food distributions each month. For many of the people we serve, Ohana Produce Plus is their only source of fresh produce.

  Food 4 Keiki Backpack program: This program provides 550 students from low-income or homeless families at Princess Victoria Kaiulani Elementary School and Linapuni Elementary School in Kalihi with food to take home on weekends, holidays and over school breaks when school meals are not available.

  Food 4 Keiki School Pantry: Hawaii Foodbank provides family food bags and keiki snacks through its School Pantry program, supplemented with two off-campus Keiki Pantries, serving students from preschool through high school.

  Food 4 Keiki Feeding our Future: For over 13 years, the Sodexo Foundation, C&S Wholesale, and Hawaii Foodbank have partnered to organize a summer hot lunch program for children at risk of hunger. Food is purchased by the Foundation and stored and cooked at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Participating Foodbank partner agencies then pick up the food and distribute it to children. Over 11,000 lunches were distributed to 362 students in the summer of 2018.

  Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the "Senior Food Box Program:" This program provides more than 2,000 low-income seniors each month with supplemental foods such as milk, cheese, cereal, juice, peanut butter, rice and canned meats.

  Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP): This program is a partnership with the Hawaii Office of Community Services and the USDA. The program provides vouchers to qualifying seniors to improve their access to fresh fruits and vegetables through farmers' markets. During the most recent fiscal year, Hawaii Foodbank provided 5,798 seniors with vouchers.

• What can be done with a $100 donation?

  Hawaii Foodbank is highly efficient with the monetary donations it receives. A $100 donation helps us provide food for ~250 meals.

• What progress has been made already thanks to your donors?

  With the generous support of our community and donors, Hawaii Foodbank is able to serve 1 in 8 individuals and families by providing food and basic supplies to ensure that no one in Hawaii goes hungry.

• What is the history of your organization?

  Founded by John White, Hawaii Foodbank has a mission to ensure that no one in Hawaii goes hungry. We work to gather food from our communities and distribute it to those in need through a network of partner agencies. This mission is from the heart, and we strive to fulfill our pledge with integrity, humanity and aloha.

  The first Hawaii Foodbank warehouse opened on Sand Island Access Road on Oahu in 1983. Today, Hawaii Foodbank and our network of nearly 200 partner agencies help to feed 1 in 8 people in Hawaii each year. We also provide food to neighbor islands when there is a need. Our partner agencies distribute food directly to those who need it through food pantries, feeding programs, homeless and domestic abuse shelters, residential programs for the elderly or at-risk youth, and soup kitchens.

  Hawaii Foodbank directly feeds those in need through programs that provide fresh produce to families, serve lunches to children at risk of hunger, and provide family food bags and snacks to students in need. We also partner with federal and state agencies to administer programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the "Senior Food Box Program" and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and provide food for households with children under age of 18 through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

  Hawaii Foodbank works hard to keep administrative and fundraising costs low. Program expenses account for 94% of our total expenses while administrative and fundraising costs account for just 6%. We have received 8 consecutive Charity Navigator 4-star ratings for our high standards of financial accountability and transparency.