“Stew in a bag” given to over 10,000 Oahu residents

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell along with the Royal Hawaiian Band and community food rescue organization Aloha Harvest partnered to distribute 1,000 “Stew in a Bag” grocery kits to newly unemployed households. The bags brimmed with 7 tons of locally-sourced produce, meat, 34,560 eggs, and everything needed for a recipe of local stew able to provide 10,000 meals.

As Mayor Kirk Caldwell loaded Stew in a Bag kits in car trunks snaked throughout the soccer complex, he shared, “Today has shown there a tremendous need – they are our family, our friends, our neighbors – and I couldn’t be prouder to be out here today serving those that have given so much to our community.”

Those who came after the food was distributed were given gift cards to Foodland.  Locally-sourced food is particularly import for Aloha Harvest, whose work rescues food from waste – in the 23 million pounds of it in the last two decades. Executive Director Phil Acosta, shared “Aloha Harvest was grateful to partner with the city in distributing food today. Mahalo to all the volunteers who helped with this massive effort. We are standing by, ready to serve our community, and looking forward to collaborating with the city in the future.”

As the City announced on Friday, it will be launching an eight-week food drive effort on Thursday, April 30 with the Foodbank of Hawaii, Hawaii Community Foundation, and Bank of Hawaii to serve an estimated 4,000 households twice weekly. The Royal Hawaiian Band, under the direction of Clarke Bright, has provided coordination support for this effort and will transport, pack, and assist in distributing the food to families in need.