About the organizer

THE FOOD BASKET INC., HAWAI`I ISLAND`S FOOD BANK We are Hawai`i Island’s sole food bank and as such deliver both direct and indirect programs to alleviate food insecurity and hunger for our most vulnerable residents. Our direct service programs include: Keiki Backpacks; Kupuna Pantry; `Ohana Community Drops and Pantry and Soup Kitchen programs. We deliver these programs through our network of partner agencies, serving over 14,000 unduplicated individuals per month and delivering 2,000,000 plus pounds of food in 2018 islandwide. Our intent and commitment is to serve at the pleasure of the residents of Hawai`i Island, which continues to trail every other County in the State with regard to income, employment, food access, and general opportunity. The Food Basket’s staff serve 60% of all inhabited land in the State of Hawaii, more than any other similar agency. As a result, we are also the only Food Bank in the State with multiple headquarters, one on each side of the island. Our East Hawaii Warehouse services a 108 mile territory from Honokaa to Naalehu. Our West Hawai`i pick-ups and deliveries stretch from Kapaau through Kamuela and down to Ocean View in Kau, over 130 miles. Our target population is the needy, regardless of geography, ethnicity, demographics, or interests.The Food Basket’s services touch two main constituencies in the community. As a supplier we provide food to support the activities of over one hundred non-profit Emergency Pantries, Soup Kitchens, and same-day pantries on Hawai`i Island. This diverse portfolio of community partners include after-school programs, public housing, churches and religious organizations, clean and sober houses, and domestic violence shelters, among others. Our second constituency is individuals. Through our individualized programs, our staff directly delivers food to County sites, Department of Education Schools, and Community Centers for qualified individuals to receive services. These customized services meet the needs of the individuals or families enrolled. The Food Basket is primarily concerned with serving the hunger needs of the island’s residents. These needs manifest in the form of monthly food supplements, one-time family emergencies due to unusual circumstances, and mass distribution in the event of natural disasters. Finally, our high service numbers create the opportunity for all of The Food Basket’s collaborative partners to effect change where it is needed most.VISION: Hawaiʻi County will be a model for food security and sustainability through the leadership of The Food Basket, a trusted and stable agency distributing the safest and highest quality food for Hawaiʻi County. MISSION: The mission of The Food Basket is to end hunger in Hawaiʻi County.