Mahalo to the Hawaiʻi Island Food Alliance for compiling these resources.

STATE OF HAWAIʻI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

• 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. The benefit is expected to be put on beneficiaries’ EBT card by mid-November.

• INFORMATION ABOUT IMPACTS ON SNAP BENEFITS AMID THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. The Hawai’i Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to closely monitor the federal shutdown and its impact on SNAP, and provides updates on their website, including a helpful list of Frequently Asked Questions.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAWAIʻI

Hawaiʻi Relief Program.  The Hawaiʻi Relief Program will provide up to four months of TANF support for housing and utility payments for eligible families (households with dependent children under 18 or someone in their third trimester of pregnancy) experiencing financial hardship. Individuals do not need to be on SNAP to apply for the Hawaiʻi Relief Program. Applications are now open. Learn more and apply HERE

VIBRANT HAWAIʻI

Aloha in Action - Register Today. 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.

THE 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 Workers. The Food Basket (TFB) has food resources available for federal employees in need of food assistance. TFB 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.

• Hilo Warehouse, Monday - Friday 8:00 - 3:30
• Kona Warehouse, Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM  

Find Food Now. Island-wide Resource of Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens, and Emergency Food Distributions.

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.

Kōkua Harvest. Join a harvest, invite Kōkua Harvest to glean the abundance from your trees or harvest yourself and donate fresh produce at The Food Basket Hilo and Kona warehouse locations.

HAWAIʻI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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

OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

OHA Emergency Relief Funds. Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has approved a $6.1 Million for emergency relief to protect Native Hawaiian families amid the federal shutdown. More details will be announced in early November.

HAWAIʻI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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.

HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE

Senate Health and Human Services Briefing. The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held an informational briefing on October 28 regarding the impact of the current Federal Government Shutdown on SNAP in Hawai’i as well as the WIC program and impacts to Hawaiʻi Foodbank.

Please share these resources with anyone who needs assistance.

Department of Research and Development Agriculture and Food Systems Program