Young Named Executive Director of Isle’s Food Bank

A native Big Islander with experience in managing food and nutrition programs statewide has been named executive director of The Food Basket.

En Young will oversee island-wide operations and development of the non-profit agency also known as Hawaii Island’s Food Bank.

Young previously served as an administrator for the state’s Office of Community Services. There he was in charge of a variety of state- and federal-funded programs designed to alleviate poverty and hunger including the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program and the US Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Food Program.

“We here at the Food Basket are looking forward to working with someone who has the experience and qualifications of Mr. Young,” said Roland Higashi, chairman of the Food Basket’s Board of Directors. “Our collective vision is to provide better, more efficient services on the island and improve our ability to alleviate hunger.

“The addition of En and a few new board members to our team is very exciting and will bring global perspective as well as assist us with innovative program development,” Higashi said.

The Food Basket manages a supplemental food network that collects and distributes nutritious, high-quality food to low-income households, the working poor, senior citizens, children, the disabled and the ill.

Utilizing a combination of public and private funding sources, it serves communities across the Big Island.

“We would like to thank all of our community partners for your generous support and patience throughout this transition,” Young said. “We are fully confident that once we acclimate to our new facilities and leadership that these will translate into improved services to our partner agencies, neighbors and friends.”

Young replaces Dr. Nani Lee, who retired as the Food Bank’s executive director in November.