The Hawaii Foodbank Summary

The Hawaii Foodbank mission statement:
"The people of Hawaii are one ohana. The Hawaii Foodbank provides food so that no one in our family goes hungry. We work to gather food and support from our communities. We then distribute food through charitable agencies to those in need. Our mission is from the heart, and we will fulfill our mission with integrity, humanity and aloha."

The Hawaii Foodbank is a non profit agency who serves the people of Hawaii through their member agencies. The Foodbank collects, sorts, stores, and distributes perishable and non-perishable foods to their 250 member agencies, one of which is HUGS. The Foodbank is a link between the food donors (about 300) and the partner agencies who further deliver the foods to those in need. Those who benefit from the Hawaii Foodbank include the hungry elderly, children, low-income families, homeless, disabled, temporarily unemployed and those in financial crisis.

In 2008, the Hawaii Foodbank distributed 8.2 million pounds of food, as well as 1.6 million pounds of fresh fruits and veggies distributed through the Foodbank's Ohana Produce Program.

In 2008, food donations and foods distributed had increased greatly. Donations equaled 9,953,123 pouns (+1,168,761 since 2007) and distribution totaled 8,681,116 pounds (+1,060,187 pounds from 2007). This means that 6,835,524 meals were distributed in 2008.

Given the times in Hawaii in 2008, higher price of living, Hawaii businesses closing, member agencies of the foodbank had substantial increases in the number clients needing to be served. It was a challenge to secure enough food, and this is why the increased number of food donations was so valuable. To solve the problem of high demand and low supply, sometimes the amounts of food distributed to families had to be decreased, or sent in search of help to another agency.

For 2009, the goal was to collect 10 million pounds of food and to distribute at least 8.8 million pounds of food. Twice the amount of funds were set aside for food purchases ($200,000), but because food prices increased, basically the same amount of food was obtained. Since food prices were higher, people in the community spent less, thus food retailers ordered a smaller quantity of items for their inventory, and food manufacturers made less in order to save money. Less food being made meant fewer donations for the Foodbank.

To counter challenges such as these, members from the Product Resourcing Committee were frequently visiting local farmers and food retailers/wholesalers to be sure all possible food donations were being made to the Foodbank. The Foodbank looked for more food donors and kept relations good with the current ones.

Citation:

"Hawaii Foodbank - Hunger Facts." Hawaii Foodbank - Home. 15 July 2009 http://www.hawaiifoodbank.org/page18.aspx.

"Hawaii Foodbank Mission." Hawaii Foodbank - Home. 15 July 2009 http://www.hawaiifoodbank.org/page1000.aspx.

"Hawaii Foodbank - What We Do." Hawaii Foodbank - Home. 15 July 2009 .