HILO — It’s a busy time of year for Big Island community organizations working to make the holidays a little brighter for everyone.
But between the meals served, the food boxes prepared, and the gifts wrapped and delivered, local coordinators keep their eyes on preparing for the months ahead.
“We’re trying to get the word out that we are in need all year round,” said Kristin Frost Albrecht, director of public relations and events at the Hawaii Food Basket. “But this is definitely a big time of year for us, and we really count on the donations and the food. The need doesn’t go away after the holidays.”
She said the Food Basket is always in need of donated nonperishable food items — “as fast as they come in, they’re going out” — as well as produce donations from local farmers. Monetary donations help support the Food Basket’s Da Box program, which provides a box of fresh produce every week to Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program recipients.
The Food Basket just completed an annual keiki backpack drive in partnership with Kapa Radio and Hawaii Island United Way. Volunteers packed 350 backpacks full of nutritious food for elementary-school keiki to bring home over winter break.
Two out of three kids on Hawaii Island receive free or discounted lunches, Frost Albrecht said. The keiki backpack program takes place throughout the year, along with the Food Basket’s senior brown bag program, but takes on more weight over the holidays.
“Being on a longer break, sometimes they don’t have anything at home,” said Sasha Payao, campaign and special events coordinator for Hawaii Island United Way. “(Volunteers) try to make it as nutritional as possible.”
United Way is also wrapping up its annual general campaign, which this year had an ambitious goal of raising $1 million. Money raised provides two-year grants to local service agencies.
Payao said 38 agencies and 48 programs were supported this year.
“We never know how many are going to apply (for grants),” Payao said. “We always tell our donors that we have something for everyone … at some point in time, either they themselves could possibly use the service, or they will definitely know somebody who needs it.
“It’s kind of crazy, how much money we’re able to collect through donations when you look at the (relative) population size.”
Ninety-eight cents of every dollar donated stays on Hawaii Island, Payao said.
In addition to providing financial support to local programs, Big Island residents also donate time.
Since Thanksgiving weekend, Salvation Army volunteers have been stationed at 14 different locations around Hilo, ringing bells for the organization’s red kettle drive.
“That’s our main fundraiser for our whole year,” Hilo Salvation Army captain Shoshannah Ruwethin said.
During the holidays, the Salvation Army hosts its annual Thanksgiving banquet — this year, more than 1,000 plates of food were served to about 500 people — and coordinates the Angel Tree effort, which provides donated gifts to both keiki and kupuna.
“Once everything is done, we still have our feeding program three times a week,” Ruwethin said.
There’s also a year-round food pantry that provides supplementary food to more than 60 families, and a clothing voucher program, in addition to the Salvation Army’s outreach services.
The last day of bell-ringing is Christmas Eve; kettles will be brought in at 1 p.m.
Ruwethin said volunteers are still welcome.
“We’re in crunch time right now, but if people want to come volunteer, they can give us a call,” she said.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
INFO:
The Food Basket
https://www.hawaiifoodbasket.org/donate/
United Way (808) 935-6393
https://hiuw.org/donate/
Salvation Army (808) 935-1277
https://www.hawaii.salvationarmy.org/hawaii/hilo
