Lehua Street in Honokaa was packed Friday afternoon with cars on their way to pick up food during The Food Basket’s Ohana Food Drop event.
Ohana Food Drop donors along with The Food Basket, CMU ‘Ohana, Hilo Fish Co. and Kona Fish Co. gave a couple of thousand meals to Hawaii Island residents in line around the Honokaa Sports Complex and Skate Park.
The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, has provided meals to island residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not been slowing down.
“We’re doing about 14 food drops a month,” said The Food Basket Executive Director Kristin Frost Albrecht. “People began lining up for this 1 p.m. food drop at about 8 a.m.”
Although supplies are limited, hundreds of residents are able to collect food in bulk, which is distributed on a first come, first serve basis. People are asked to remain in their cars and wear masks if they roll down the windows.
All of the food given to help those in need has been funded by donations to The Food Basket.
“This is truly residents feeding residents,” Albrecht said. “All of the food was grown on the island, nothing was purchased out of the county.”
The Hawaii National Guard, North Hawaii Education and Research Center and community members volunteered to pass out food to the endless line of cars in Honokaa.
The food bank plans to continue serving the island with Ohana Food Drop distribution events through July.
Anyone can drive up to receive food in bulk during these planned Ohana Food Drop events:
• 10 a.m. Friday, July 3, Waimea District Park.
• 10 a.m. July 10, Waikoloa Elementary School.
• 10 a.m. July 23, Kekuaokalani Gymnasium in Kona.
• 10 a.m. July 24, Honokaa Sports Complex &Skate Park.
The Food Basket has additional donation dates listed on its website at www.hawaiifoodbasket.org, where it also continues to accept monetary donations.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.