Roughly 15,000 pounds of food were distributed last Tuesday to more than 250 families in the Naalehu area by The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s Food Bank.
The Ohana Food Drop was the first and only drop scheduled for 2022, a drastic decline from the 170 drops held last year during the height of the pandemic.
“It’s really a tough time for a lot of folks,” said Executive Director Kristin Frost Albrecht, who hopes to continue meeting with legislators to schedule more events in the near future. “We’re checking out communities we think are really food insecure.”
The decrease in events is, in part, due to a lack of federal food shipments from The Emergency Food Assistance Program. In December of 2020, the Food Basket received 250,000 pounds of food as part of the federal program, a number that dropped to just 8,000 pounds in April of this year, and zero for the month of August.
“My biggest fear is running out,” she said, noting The Food Basket has responded by purchasing directly from local farmers to offset the lack of food. “Even though we have to purchase more now, we purchase everything we can locally, such as local produce from our farmers. We know it really makes a difference when we keep all our money in our community and it helps elevate our economy.”
Roughly 35 volunteers assisted with the Ohana Food Drop. Local farmers, neighbors, pastors, ranchers, contractors, members of the police and fire departments and two Food Basket board members came together, handing out 15-pound bags of rice and 10-pound bags of produce along with protein, canned goods and other fresh food for families in need.
“Seeing all these people come in makes me realize how many people need to take advantage of free food in the community,” said volunteer Ron Chu. “The cost of food is outrageous, and this helps the community.”
Distribution took place at the Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii for families living in the Ocean View, Naalehu, Pahala and Milolii areas.
“People here have families within families, sometimes there’s five families under one roof, and people are traveling to Hilo and Kona to work,” said Christine Kaehuaea, Food Basket board member and volunteer. “It’s expensive to live out here.”
The Food Basket is part of the Feeding America Network, a national group that helps unite distribution companies like Suisan in Hilo and Costco in Kona with food distributors in the area. The Food Basket partners with roughly 150 different agencies and helps with both supply and distribution.
“We utilize grocery stores, distributors, plus the farmers and ranchers,” said Frost Albrecht. “When we start hearing from the community that their numbers are so high, that it’s getting hard for them, that’s when we start doing events like this, where we’re the direct distributor.”
Volunteers all spoke of how necessary these distribution events are for rural communities and the importance of giving back.
“They are friends, family, neighbors and people who love this kind of stuff,” said Kaehuaea of the volunteers. “It’s Ka‘u helping Ka‘u.”
Kaehuaea herself struggled during the pandemic, finding herself on the other side of the Ohana Food Drops last year. This year, she returned the favor, helping distribute food to her neighbors and fellow community members struggling with food insecurity.
“For me, I was in line last year, and I’m not far away from being in line again,” she said. “It’s tough making ends meet, and this is such an amazing event they do because it just adds that little bonus of help when people really need it.”
She also offered a word of advice for those struggling with the economic challenges resulting from the pandemic.
“Never be too proud to come out if you need a helping hand,” she said. “Knowing that this is here, whatever side we’re on, this is really cool.”
Additional information related to future Ohana Food Drops and donations can be found at www.hawaiifoodbasket.org
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.