Food Talk

The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s Food Bank

More than 1 in 10 people in Hawaii are food insecure—which means they lack consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. With COVID-19, families across Hawaii who were already struggling now need immediate help to basic needs. Grants from the Hawaii Resilience Fund were deployed to foodbanks across our islands just days after the fund was established. The Food Basket, Hawaii Island's Food Bank, held its first Ohana Drop in Pahala, which was operated as a drive-thru where families received two weeks of non-perishable food, produce, milk, and other products. More than 220 cars showed up. “Volunteers assembled the proper amount of food to go in trunks or back seats—with lots of handwashing and distancing to keep us all safe,” said Kristin Frost Albrecht, The Food Basket’s executive director. “There were lots of smiles and happy people, and we can’t wait to keep these drive-thurs going.”