FOOD ASSISTANCE

Find Food Distribution Sites

• Find Food Now — The Food Basket

• Aloha In Action | Vibrant Hawaiʻi

Bus Routes to Pantry Locations: Hawaiʻi County Mass Transit Agency created a directory of bus routes to The Food Basket partner agencies Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen locations.

State Programs

• Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Benefit: Governor Green’s Executive Order provides a one-time credit of $250 per person for current SNAP beneficiaries, regardless of their current benefit level.

• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program: The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program announces that WIC clinics across the state will remain open and fully operational, providing essential nutrition services and food benefits to qualifying families. All scheduled appointments, nutrition education and benefit issuance services are proceeding as normal.

• School Meals: The Hawaiʻi Department of Education is urging families impacted by recent economic changes to apply for free or reduced-price school meals.

Non-Profit Programs

Hawaiʻi Food Basket

• ʻOhana Drops: The Food Basket ‘Ohana Drops will take place around the island throughout November. Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

• Federal Worker Assistance: The Food Basket has food resources available for federal employees in need of food assistance. Kona and Hilo warehouses are holding food distributions for federal employees who are working as well as those who are furloughed. Please show your federal ID. 

Vibrant Hawaiʻi

• Aloha in Action: Through Aloha in Action, Vibrant Hawaiʻi’s island wide emergency response effort, 12 community food distribution sites are being activated to ensure residents continue to have access to essential food resources. Registration for the distributions are open. This project prioritizes households whose SNAP benefits have been paused and federal employees impacted by the government shutdown. Proof of eligibility is required.

Ways to Help

• State of Hawaiʻi Kōkua Food Drive

• Kōkua Harvest

HOUSING ASSISTANCE

• Hawaiʻi Relief Program: Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, in partnership with the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Human Services, is offering housing assistance to eligible applicants experiencing financial hardship. This program is for households with dependent children or someone in their third trimester of pregnancy.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• OHA Emergency Relief Funds: The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has approved $6.1 million for emergency relief to protect Native Hawaiian families amid the federal shutdown. 

• Aloha United Way 2-1-1: Aloha United Way’s 211 service is Hawai’i’s comprehensive statewide information and referral helpline. Find food, shelter, financial assistance, childcare, parenting support, kūpuna care, disability services, and health services related to COVID-19 and vaccinations.