Big Island’s food bank stepping up to help feed people affected by federal government shutdown

Over the past three weeks, The Food Basket, Hawaiʻi Island’s food bank, has responded to the federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1 by ensuring that federal workers still reporting to their jobs without pay or furloughed don’t go hungry.

“We have our pantry open longer for federal workers because we want to accommodate them as much as possible,” The Food Basket CEO Kristin Frost Albrecht said. “We’ve been hearing that they have missed at least two paychecks. Many of them are working double shifts, and some are sleeping in their cars because they live far away and don’t have gas money.”

The Food Basket is providing those affected federal workers in Hilo and Kona with staple and fresh food in boxes and bags once a week.

A federal employee, who asked to remain anonymous, felt numb when stopping by The Food Basket in Hilo this week to pick up food before going home after work.

“I’m honestly feeling apathetic about what is to come,” the employee said. “This is the first week I’ve [picked up food] because I just accepted that I will not get my full paycheck and will not be able to eat next week without this.

“Some of my coworkers told me they are using their credit cards at the grocery store because it’s their only option now. Most of them have kids, too.”

Along with extending hours at its pantries in Hilo and Kona, The Food Basket has conducted small food drops at all four National Park Service entities on the island: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park and Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge.

According to an Oct. 15 financial report, Hawaiʻi is the second most state affected by the government shutdown, with about 5.6% of all jobs being federal positions.

“From Wednesday to Friday, we will pack a total of 5,000 boxes,” Albrecht said. “Luckily, we had a warehouse of volunteers to help pack boxes and have had more donations from our corporate partners and individuals. However, with the holidays coming up, we will continue to feel the impacts.”

For The Food Basket, the impact becomes cyclical. One of its programs, Da BUX, allows residents who receive federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase healthy, locally sourced fruits and vegetables with their SNAP card.

The statewide program using federal funding not only helps low-income households throughout the islands eat healthier but also helps local farmers sell their produce so they can continue growing food for local populations.

“Without SNAP, our farmers will feel the impacts,” Albrecht said. “We are purchasing from small and medium-sized farmers and we hope it floats them, but not everyone has a safety net.

“It can be disheartening because we are encouraging people to grow food so we can become sustainable as an island.”

The tumultuous federal shutdown and the potential loss of SNAP benefits brought reminders of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fear of running out of food or being disconnected from the mainland.

To bring more food assistance to rural areas outside of Hilo and Kona, The Food Basket is reviving a pandemic-era program and conducting six ʻOhana Food Drops for residents across the island.

“We started planning our food drops because they can reach the largest number of people and we can host them in rural areas for people who can’t make it to Hilo or Kona,” Albrecht said. “We have six drops scheduled, and hopefully, this shutdown will be over by the time we’re done.”

Albrecht was more hopeful on Thursday when the state issued a $250 emergency relief payment per eligible individual and directed $2 million in state support through the Department of Human Services to Hawaiʻi’s food banks to maintain essential operations and food distribution across every island.

Then on Friday, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund the SNAP food aid program using contingency funds during the government shutdown. However, The Food Basket will be continuing its response across the island through November.

While supplies at the food drops are limited, the drive-through event serves residents on a first-come, first-served basis. However, The Food Basket asks everyone to arrive no more than 30 minutes before the start time, which is always 10 a.m.

Dates and locations of drops are listed below:

• Nov. 4: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo
• Nov. 6: Old Kona Airport Pavilion in Kona
• Nov. 12: Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Temple in Nā‘ālehu
• Nov. 13: Pāhoa Community Center in Pāhoa
• Nov. 18: Waimea District Park in Waimea
• Nov. 21: Kahuku Park in Ocean View

“We hope that with our efforts, along with efforts from our county and state partners, and assistance from the state, everyone will have enough to eat at this time,” Albrecht said. “Luckily, we have the best community. Whenever people are in need, others put their collective arms around each other and truly give.”

For those interested in volunteering at The Food Basket, call the Hilo location at 808-933-6030 or the Kona location at 808-322-1418.

Volunteers can also stop by both locations from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 40 Holomua St. in Hilo, or from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 73-4161 Uluwini Place in Kona.

Information on all assistance during the federal shutdown can be found at https://www.hawaiifoodbasket.org/2025shutdown.