Feeding Hawaii Together, Oahu’s biggest food bank, is at risk of closing, according to Hawaii Public Radio. The building in which the food bank can be found was sold over the summer, requiring the food bank to move operations elsewhere by December.
Celeste Jacobson, a junior from Ohio studying social work, said it is humanity’s responsibility to take care of one another. “The majority, or at least a big chunk of the population, is in poverty. Part of our role as people, and as a government, is to take care of people who are in need. It’s hard in a place like Hawaii where there is a lot of need, but that’s just part of being human.”
Hawaii Public Radio credited Feeding Hawaii Together with serving nearly 2000 people per week. The food bank is different from other non-profit or state funded organizations because it gives low-income people in Hawaii the opportunity to select fresh produce. This takes some financial strain off families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet, according to Hawaii Public Radio.
Derek Au, a sophomore from Hong Kong studying exercise science, said, “We should be trying harder to feed the homeless, especially in Hawaii since there are a lot. These people don’t have a lot of money and could be starving. It doesn’t look good to have people not being helped.”
According to the Hawaii Department of Human Services website, the homelessness problem is worsening with time, and there are not enough services to support the growing population. Homelessness went up 4 percent from 2015 to 2016. The number of homeless people who don’t have access to homeless shelters saw a 12 percent increase.
Marianna Rudyk, a freshman from Ukraine studying hospitality and tourism management, said, “I just think it’s important to have services for people in need. In Hawaii, we have so many people living on the streets. Something needs to be done about this. The owners of the building should have let the food bank stay. It’s good for the community.”
According to Talk Poverty’s 2016 report, 10.6 percent of Hawaii’s population is below the poverty line, making it the 7th most impoverished state. Hawaii also experiences a high rate of food insecurity; 9.7 percent of Hawaii’s population doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from, making it the 2nd most food insecure state.
Part of the food bank’s mission is to prevent people who are living on the verge of homelessness from actually becoming homeless, according to their mission statement. Giving people access to healthy groceries gives them more financial freedom to spend money on rent and other living expenses. People who use these resources don’t have to sacrifice having a roof over their head in order to eat, according to the Feeding Hawaii Together website.
Feeding Hawaii together is currently looking for a new location, according to Hawaii Public Radio. However, the non profit is struggling to find a location with affordable rent. Feeding Hawaii together also needs a property on the ground floor of a building, with close access to a bus line.
Writer: Savanna