Your Views for April 1

Help Food Basket

This is in response to the Tribune-Herald articles in the Thursday, March 23, issue regarding The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank (“Senior Produce Program to end” and “Food Basket well-stocked, but short on funds”).

On behalf of The Food Basket, we would like to thank the public for their overwhelming concern and support. Many of you contacted us with questions like: “What is going on?” and “How can the community help?”

What is going on? Like many nonprofits, The Food Basket fights every day to raise the necessary money to keep our operations going. We are grateful to have been able to service our Hawaii Island communities for the past 10 years.

On average, The Food Basket provides food to 13,649 different people per month and 42,000 different people a year, with many of our programs and outreach assisting seniors and children.

The Senior Produce Program was significant to our kupuna because, for many, it was their only source of fresh fruits and vegetables. It also was a consistent source of income for many local farmers from whom we purchased produce. Unfortunately, this critical program had to be eliminated as a result of lessening state-provided federal funds and the program being operated at a yearly loss.

The Food Basket faces many unique challenges. Most people contribute by donating canned goods. And, while we are truly grateful since we are able to collect the greatest variety of food items this way, including much-needed proteins, monetary funding also is a necessity to continue our operations.

Last year, less than a third of The Food Basket’s funding came from the government, including state, federal and Hawaii County. The remaining two-thirds of our funding is largely from donations, so we are very dependent on the community for support.

How can the community help? In order to collect, store and distribute food to the different communities islandwide, we need funding for equipment, space and staff. There is just no way around it. Only about 10 percent of the food The Food Basket distributes comes from community food drives. The poverty and the homelessness crisis in Hawaii also places additional demands on The Food Basket, increasing the need for our services.

On behalf of The Food Basket, I’d also like to clarify an ongoing point of confusion for many. Please remember that any and all money donated to the “Hawaii Foodbank” goes to Oahu, and while we are related agencies, our funding is totally separate.

So, only money you donate to The Food Basket Inc. – Hawaii Island’s food bank — stays on Hawaii Island. While hunger is something we want to eliminate statewide, if you want your donations to stay on Hawaii Island, you need to give directly to The Food Basket.

I’d like to leave you with the famous words of the late George Yokoyama: “Can we count on you?”

The Food Basket has a dedicated leadership team and a committed staff, but we need your help. Please give any monetary donations you can. Let’s make sure our keiki, kupuna and neighbors no longer go hungry on the Big Island.

Note: Donations can be made on The Food Basket’s website at hawaiifoodbasket.org, in person at The Food Basket’s Hilo or Kailua-Kona warehouses, or via mail to 40 Holomua St., Hilo, HI 96720.

Ian Takashiba

Chairman, The Food Basket