As the year-end and New Year holidays approach, Hawaii Food Bank is struggling to supply food supplies.
Amy Marvin, CEO of Food Bank, said that it is not easy to prepare food as donations are decreasing compared to increasing demand.
For example, the food distributed every week at Honolulu Central Union Church is about 600 households, but in the second week of November, 642 households applied, exceeding the supply.
On average, 582 households received ration requests each week at the Central Union Church distribution center, so there was no major difficulty in supplying food.
CEO Marvin explained that the demand for food is increasing, especially among elderly households living alone and working households.
Due to the pandemic, the rate of inflation (inflation) continues to march high, and the price of meals is also increasing day by day.
The high cost of living puts a heavy burden not only on the low-income group but also on the non-profit organizations that support them.
CEO Marvin said that it took about 10 years for the damage suffered during the 2008 economic crisis to recover.
The financial crisis it is experiencing could also take years or more to recover from.
The Hawaii Food Bank has faced several challenges this summer, including reduced federal support and increased costs and demand.
For example, in the summer, only about 25% of the federal food supply from the US Department of Agriculture Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is reported to have been supplied with food.
It’s better than no supply at all, but it doesn’t change the fact that the food bank in Hawaii does not have a small food burden to supply itself.
The food bank’s food rations are approximately 360,000 pounds per week.
Alicia Higa, director of the Community Health Department at Waianae Coastal General Hospital (WCCHC), said the demand for food among children and the elderly was higher than during the peak of the pandemic.
According to Isa Higa, about 750 seniors and 1,800 children visit the food pantry every week.
Since the food budget for the elderly is usually set for 500-550 people, it is said that if the current situation continues, the food stockpile could be exhausted by March next year.
Director Higa is experiencing a benefits cliff, where she loses her Social Security or SNAP eligibility for a small wage increase, and her rent increase cuts her budget for food.
WCCHC originally planned a Thanksgiving distribution event, but it was reported that it could not be carried out due to lack of funds.
Governor David Ige announced on November 18 that the Pandemic Food Stamps (SNAP) extended assistance benefit would be extended through January 16 next year.
The Governor benefits from the unprecedented inflation caused by the pandemic, which has increased the cost of food, fuel, childcare, transportation, and utilities, all of which are causing residents to suffer from food insecurity.
Foodbank CEO Marvin said operating costs continue to rise. For example, fuel costs increased by about 66% from about $6,000 in October 2021 to $10,000 in October this year, and the price of chicken jumped about twice in one year.
Marvin said the goal is to fill the shortfall in the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and fundraising.
He stressed the importance of fundraising, especially since for every dollar donated, more than two meals can be provided.
Phil Acosta, director of Aloha Harvest, a food distribution non-profit in Oahu, said they received a lot of funding during the pandemic, but are currently short on budget.
In addition, as the year-end and New Year holidays approached, there was a temporary surge in donations, but since this is a temporary phenomenon, it is necessary to be creative for more stable fund management.
Food insecurity in Hawaii has risen by 50% since the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Hawaii Food Bank. About 250,000 people in Hawaii need food assistance, and one in four children suffer from hunger.