Hawaii Foodbank Receives US$2 Million Donation

The City & County of Honolulu matched a $1 million donation from the Hawaii Resilience Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) for COVID-19 relief efforts. The funds will go to Hawaii Foodbank to deploy food distributions at four new locations across Oahu beginning Thursday, April 30, 2020. This will be in addition to the existing food distributions at 200 Hawaii Foodbank Partner Agencies island wide.

“There are hundreds of thousands of people on Oahu right now who are struggling to make ends meet, and wondering how long this will all last,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “We are partnering with the Hawaii Community Foundation and Hawaii Foodbank to reach out to these people, and hopefully ease the burden of wondering how they’re going to put food on the table. In order for us to get through this, we all need to come up with creative solutions and work together to help those in need.” To help Oahu rise resiliently, the Honolulu Mayor today announced this innovative public-private partnership to provide food assistance to recently unemployed individuals.

The Bank of Hawaii Foundation donated $3 million to the Hawaii Resilience Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation to address the growing social and economic impacts of COVID 19 in Hawaii. From their donation, $750,000 will be used for this effort on Oahu and $250,000 will be deployed to feed families on the neighbor islands. “Our hope is that this donation can relieve the stress that so many are experiencing right now to provide food for their families,” says Peter S. Ho, chairman, president and CEO of Bank of Hawaii. “We remain committed to making a significant impact on Hawaii’s needs in the broadest way possible throughout this pandemic.”

The new food distribution will kick off on Thursday, April 30, 2020, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Waipio Soccer Complex. The goal is to have two distributions per week alternating at four venues:  Kakaako Waterfront Park, Kaiaka Bay Beach Park (Haleiwa), Waimānalo District Park, and Waipio Soccer Complex. Dates and times are to be determined, and schedules will be posted on Hawaii Foodbank’s website. Multiple family pick-ups (two to three families per vehicle) are recommended.

Four food partners – Sysco Hawaii; Hawaii Foodservice Alliance; Hawaii Ranchers Kauai, Hawaii Island, Maui and Oahu; and Hawaii Farm Bureau – will provide high-quality food products for an estimated 4,000 households at each distribution site. Several community partners, including Hawaii Counts 2020 Census, Child & Family Service, Domestic Violence Action Center, and City’s American Job Center will also be on hand to provide valuable information to recipients.

The Royal Hawaiian Band, under the direction of Clarke Bright, will assist Hawaii Foodbank with the distributions. The band, which in a normal year performs over 350 concerts, has assisted in staffing the city’s call center and performing other critical tasks during the pandemic. They will be engaged in transporting, packing and distributing the food to families in need.

“There are no words to adequately express our gratitude and appreciation for the Bank of Hawaii Foundation, the Hawaii Community Foundation, and the City & County of Honolulu,” said Hawaii Foodbank President and CEO Ron Mizutani. “It’s an incredible gift that will not only provide food assistance for the recently unemployed but also provide financial support to key players in Hawaii’s food economy—and help kickstart a conversation about the importance of local food sources. Together, we will rise resiliently.”

The public-private initiative was spurred by the unprecedented demand on food banks in Hawaii due to the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on island families. With an economic downturn, closures and shorter business hours, and increased unemployment, demand for Hawaii Foodbank food assistance has increased nearly 60 percent and is expected to continue to rise.

“The ILWU Local 142 looks forward to working with Mayor Caldwell and other organizations and businesses to help feed our members and their families and all workers who have unfortunately lost their jobs during this pandemic. Now is the time for all of us to work together to help uplift our communities and those in need”, said Michael Yamaguchi, Oahu Division Director, ILWU Local 142.

Pamela A. Witty-Oakland, Director for the Department of Community Services said, “The COVID-19 public health emergency has compounded the many challenges faced by many of Oahu’s residents, who may be new to unemployment. The city and HCF’s partnership with Hawaii Foodbank will provide critical aid to those who need it most.”

UNITE HERE! Local 5 is proud to partner with the city in organizing the food distribution. Eric Gill, Local 5 Financial Secretary-Treasurer, stated, “We are pleased that the city is taking the lead in organizing, sharing, and cooperation to address an urgent community need. Working together is what is necessary for all of us to emerge from this crisis healthy and strong.”