The Food Basket, Inc. - Hawai'i Island's Food Bank, Hilo, HI Videos

We are closed for Veterans Day and will resume regular business hours Monday, November 13, 2023

We are celebrating Sarah Hamakawa this week and wishing her an amazing 7th work anniversary! The dedication you have displayed throughout these years is a great inspiration for all of us and we are so appreciative of all the wonderful accomplishments you have helped our staff achieve for our community. Congratulations! ❤❤❤

Did you know you could use your Kokua EBT Card for SNAP Online Purchasing? Safely order food items online for pick-up or delivery* with Safeway and Walmart and use your SNAP benefits for payment on Hawai'i Island. Just download their app, select your food items, and choose EBT Card as your method of payment at checkout. *Only eligible food may be purchased with SNAP benefits; delivery fees and other associated charges may not be paid for with SNAP benefits. The best way to determine if grocery delivery is available for your location is to visit the retailer's websites. To get more details, please visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot If you do not currently have SNAP benefits and wish to apply, please call one of our SNAP Outreach Specialists: Kat Bumatay (East Hawai'i) 808.796.0132 Duane Pajimola (West Hawaii) 808.796.0133

Happy Hummus Day! If you are one of our DA BOX subscribers you received a share of hummus from the Hawai'i "Ulu Cooperative this week with your produce bag. ‘Inamona MacNut hummus is made with Hawai'i grown 'ulu (breadfruit) instead of chickpeas, roasted kukui nuts ('inamona), mac nuts, and sea salt. This distinctly Hawaiian flavored hummus is gluten-free, delicious, and only one of many ways to indulge in this delicious dip. Watch our video for tips on what you can pair it with. Visit DABOXbigisland.org for more details on our CSA program. We are currently offering open enrollment for our east-side locations!

Hawai'i Social Epigenomics Early Diabetes Cohort is conducting a study to understand how the social environment during early adulthood (20-50 years old) may underlie diabetes progression in Hawaii's diverse populations. They are seeking participants 20-50 years old from all around Hawaii who may or may not have been diagnosed with diabetes, have resided in Hawai'i for at least 10 years, and be willing to be followed up within 3 years of enrollment. For more information visit hiseed.org

Summer Jam is BACK! SAVE THE DATE for this FREE community event on July 30th, 2022 from 10am to 3pm at the Civic in Hilo. Summer Jam features the 'Ohana Health Fair, Strongman and Bus Pull Competitions, Hilo's Eat the Street Food Truck Festival, Keiki Inflatable Bouncers, and live entertainment. Please visit BICAS.org for more details.

Annie Kuamo'o Ka'uakai has been volunteering her time to The Food Basket for so long that she is more like family than a volunteer. <3 "She is always spoiling us and making sure we are taken care of." stated operations manager Sarah H. This year marks her 10th year contributing her efforts to various programs like Kupuna Pantry and our former 'Ohana Food Drops. She packs lunches for our volunteer groups, bags for emergency food distribution, and is ever ready to lend a hand in any area that could use the help. An avid community supporter, she is also involved with the Pahoa Nutrition Congregate, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and Alu Like. Did we mention she is a master weaver and an enchanting ukulele player? Yesterday we enjoyed the hula performance at the Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair where she played with other members of Alu Like. Mahalo nui loa Auntie Annie, for the love, time, and energy you give to TFB and the community!!

Sending out Big Mahalos to our volunteers from last week! On Wednesday we welcomed members from Orchidland LDS Church and Lions Club and on Thursday we were joined by members of the Rotary Club as well as individual volunteers. All together they packed 30 pallets of food boxes that will be distributed with our Kupuna Pantry program! Woohoo! We had the pleasure of speaking with sister Richards, a first-time Food Basket volunteer, during Wednesday's lunch break. In addition to her work at our Hilo warehouse, sister Richards works with the Food Pantry at Orchidland LDS Church every month. "I have traveled all over the mainland and have never been in a community so generous of spirit with each other" she shared. "I love the Big Island and Hilo and this is one small way I can give back when everyone has been so kind to me." We thank you for your kindness and hard work too sister Richards! And we look forward to seeing you again before your return to the mainland in July. The Orchidland LDS Food Pantry takes place on the last Wednesday of every month at 11:30am and is located at 16-105 Orchidland Drive, Keaau, HI, 96749. Please contact 808.854.1225 for more information.

Puna Greens is a local farm in Mountain View that is run by Daniel and Leo Cravalho and their three keiki. They grow more than four varieties of hydroponic lettuce for restaurants, markets, and CSAs. You can pick up some of their pesticide-free greens at the Hilo Farmers Market, and we often include their tasty lettuce in our Da Box CSA program. For more information about this family-operated farm check out Da Box's "Meet Your Farmers" page at https://www.daboxbigisland.org/post/meet-your-farmer-puna-greens