Big Island organizations receive $500,000 in grants for long-term food security

Projects across Hawaiʻi Island were selected to receive a total of $500,000 in grants to strengthen community food security and economic resilience.

The federally funded grants are part of the county’s Improving Community Food Security Program from the Department of Research and Development, in collaboration with The Food Basket Inc. The program supports the expansion of food storage and distribution on the island and enables organizations to purchase essential equipment and supplies that bolster long-term food security efforts.

“Ensuring that families across Hawaiʻi Island have reliable access to food requires all of us – government and local organizations – working together,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “With these grants, we are supporting community-driven solutions that will help our entire island become healthier and more resilient.”

In total, 29 organizations received funding. Priority was given to projects that increase cold, dry, or freezer storage, as well as equipment and supplies that expand the capacity and resilience of existing food security programs and services.

“This funding represents a powerful investment in Hawaiʻi Island’s food security and resilience,” said Kristin Frost Albrecht, executive director of The Food Basket Inc. “By supporting community-based organizations that are deeply rooted in their communities, we are expanding capacity, strengthening local food systems, and ensuring that families across our island have reliable access to food both now and in the future.”

The grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, a federal program meant to address the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. In total, the county has invested $5.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding across its agriculture, food systems, and food security programs and initiatives.

This program is in addition to the $710,000 granted in June through the Mālama Da Farmer program to 32 local producers who demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable agriculture and expanding food production.

The Food Basket was the subrecipient of the federal funds and is responsible for administering the grants. Grantees include:

• Center for Getting Things Started
• Cooper Center Council
• Family Support Services of West Hawaiʻi DBA Family Support Hawaiʻi
• Feed Hawaiʻi (DBA Kohala Food Hub)
• Grace Baptist Church
• Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaiʻi
• HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, Inc.
• Holoholo Ministries
• Honokaʻa Hongwanji Mission
• Hope DIA-Mend Ministries
• Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻUlili
• Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA
• Kona Task Force on Feeding the Hungry
• Kōkua Christian Ministries
• KUA o Kanāueue
• Laʻiʻōpua 2020 (L2020)
• Living Waters Assembly of God
• Loaves and Fishes – Sacred Heart Church Nā‘ālehu
• Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church
• North Kohala Community Resource Center
• Orchidland Neighbors
• ‘O Kaʻū Kākou
• ‘O Makuʻu Ke Kahua
• Puna Mākaukau
• Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation
• St. James’ Episcopal Church
• St. Theresa / Holy Rosary Parish
• The Salvation Army
• West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center

To view project summaries, visit the Department of Research and Development website.