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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0158.068 2024-2026COUNTY GLERK COUNTY OF HAVMilt HAWAVI ISLAND'S FOOD BANK June 4, 2025 County of Hawai'i Council 25 Aupuni St., Suite 1401 Hilo, HI 96720 Re: Support of Memo 1 for "Food Security" to Bill 31, Draft 3 of the Mayor's proposed Operating Budget To the County of Hawai'i Council: 15i(I 31 comm. 1.58 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KRISTIN FROST ALBRECHT On behalf of The Food Basket (TFB), with a strong mission to "end hunger" I am expressing our ANN EBESUNO support for Memo 1 which adds a new line item titled "Food Security" to the Department of BOARD CHAIR Research and Development's Agricultural Contractual Services budget and an initial $2 million in funds in anticipation of Federal and State budget cuts that may negatively impact food security MARK programs on our island. 1<RZYZANOWSKI This amendment would provide essential funding to bolster food security programs that benefit our VICE -CHAIR community's most vulnerable residents at a time when significant federal budget cuts are creating a serious economic void in social safety net programs. A research study conducted in 2023 determined JASON COHN that Hawai'i County holds the highest household food insecurity rate in the state — with 40% of our TREASURER island's households reporting food insecurity in 2023, exceeding the state average of 30% and that of other Hawai'i counties, (Maui 31%, O'ahu 289/o), Kaua'i 23%).and over double of the US average of 14%. Our keiki are especially vulnerable with 29% of Hawai'i children living in food -insecure.'" J U LlA ZEE households.; As Hawai'i Island's sole food bank with offices and warehouses in both Kona and Hilo and serving _STEPHENUEDA island wide, we have been experiencing significant cuts -in shipments of.federal commodity foods__ that we rely on since the start of the year. These cuts to date, amount to: an estimated $ l :5 MM in'-`+` ' - -" WARREN LEE commodity food supplies. With groceries on average 61%.higher'in Hawai'i.than, on the continent; rt_ we are seeing an increase in hard working families with children who.are struggling.to keep up with -the 11,. escalating costs of rent, utilities, healthcare and transportation and who cannot afford f6od on their SAMANTL A tables after all the bills are paid. <fsd'' - `,COLLINS` As a food bank, we have a strong history and commitment to_ supporiing'local farmers -and ; CASEY HALPERN , producers with our upstream approach to ending hunger through innovative programs .tio' improve food security. These include the Kokua Harvest pro gram, a -program that.rescues food that'might.`: ,.. otherwise go to waste by organizing volunteers to harvest produce!from;farniers andgardeners and LAURE`N ZIRBEL then distribute to pantries, soup kitchens, school and low-incarne.senior'housing amorig;other outlets. - - This program has harvested and distributed over 160,000 pounds of produce since its inception. Our Malama Da Farmer program was developed to support our local producers with technical assistance t+ resources to help their businesses thrive and improve food security. This has included assistai cejhrough`-- councilmember contingency funds to alleviate crop theft through the installation. of cameras in their fields', — a program that has had resounding success in crop yields. it ^Comm., WWW.HAWAIIF00}D-B`A;SKET...ORG Ref.To: i . Administration and East Hawaii Warehouse West,Hawai Marehouse Ref. Da - 6A1 40 Holomua Street, Hilo, HI 96720 73-4161 Ulu Wmi,,Place, l<ailua-Iona; H1,96740 808-933-6030 Phone] 808-934-0701 Fax 808=322-1418,PI on.e �.80,8-322'=7373 Fax:-.,, THE dry O 4 i BASK w ISLAND'SVAWAVI FOOD BANK Our DA BOX Community Supported Agriculture Program purchases produce from Hawai'i Island EXECUTIVE farmers weekly and is distributed to sites island wide, providing SNAP customers healthy fresh food at a DIRECTOR reduced price. Finally, our DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks operates at over 100 retail outlets statewide and provides a 50% discount on Hawai'i grown produce for SNAP customers. Each of KRISTI N FROST these programs supports local farmers and producers with the purchase of Hawai'i grown food at a fair ALBRECHT and equitable price which in turn helps to feed our struggling families, from keiki to kupuna, with healthy, affordable nutritious food while strengthening and uplifting our local economy. BOARD OF We respectfully ask you to support our most vulnerable residents and improve food security for all in DIRECTORS Hawai'i County by approving Memo 1 as an amendment to Bill 31, the Mayor's proposed Operating Budget, Draft 3. ANN EBESUNO BOARD CHAIR Sincerely, MARK I<RZYZANOWSKI Kristin Frost Albrecht Executive Director, The Food Basket Inc., Hawai'i Island's Food Bank VICE -CHAIR JASON COHN TREASURER JULIA ZEE SECRETARY UEDA -STEPHEN WARREN LEE SAMANTHA COLLI' S CASEY HALPERN\ LAUREN_f1RBEL- 14 ^L WWW HAWAIIF0067B�*5.K'ET ORG: r Administration and East Hawaii Warehouse UVest,Hawai i-Warehouse 40 Holomua Street, Hilo, HI 96720 73-4161 Ulu Wini`Pl-ace-. Kailua-Kona,�H[9674W 808-933-6030 Phone 808-934-0701 Fax � t 8p'8=322-1418 Plione],,808-322.=7373 Fair°-,: