Power problem dogs food charity

An electrical problem has put the state’s largest charity food outlet on the brink of going dark and leaving hundreds of hungry residents with less food.

The Giving Tree, in Kakaako, is running on a gas generator that has been failing the past few days, forcing the 25,000-square-foot pantry to shut off its refrigeration units so the lights can stay on.

If the generator fails, the pantry will be forced to distribute food on its loading dock, meaning only dry goods — not fresh produce — will be given out and output will be reduced by about 80 percent, said Charlie Lorenz, executive director of the food pantry.

Last year, the Giving Tree distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to about 25,000 people, including 15,000 children. The needy — those usually making less than $78,700 a year for a family of eight — can visit the Giving Tree once a week to pick up whatever they need for free from the grocery store-style pantry.

Working with only the faulty generator, the pantry couldn’t distribute meat, fish, milk, eggs or other perishables because the 192-square-foot freezer and three walk-in refrigerators were turned off. Wednesday, the pantry received a second generator to run the freezer.

The pantry was still distributing dry goods and produce that can be put on ice.

"This electricity is hurting us," Lorenz said. "We’re just trying everything we can do to keep giving out food."

The pantry, at 615 Keawe St., has been using a generator because the electricity was shut off about two weeks ago after another building tenant who was sharing the electric meter did not pay its share of the electricity.

Lorenz said the food pantry is trying to install its own electric meter for $10,000, of which the landlord has offered to pay half. But the Giving Tree still has to raise $5,000 to finish the job and is awaiting a permit.

While trying to raise money for the meter, the Giving Tree has also been trying to find someone to fix the first generator.

Doris Chu, a 70-year-old Chinatown resident, noticed some of the lights were dim while visiting the pantry this week.

She said she goes to the Giving Tree weekly because other pantries don’t always have produce, sometimes have lines that require a two-hour wait, and give out food only once a month.

"I am working, but I’m not making enough money to pay for food," Chu said. "The wonderful thing is they have fresh fruits and vegetables to keep healthy."

Dick Grimm, president of the Hawaii Foodbank, which distributes food to pantries around the state, said the Giving Tree receives more food from the Foodbank than does any other agency in Hawaii.

"They’re a good organization," he said. "They do work hard."

He suggested anyone who needs food call 211 to find agencies that are nearby.

Lorenz said despite the electrical problems, the pantry’s goal remains filling the refrigerators, freezers and cupboards of people in need.

"There’s so many senior citizens that, they’re starving," he said.

For more information or to donate, visit the Giving Tree at www.givingtreehawaii.com or call 781-2018.