The Salvation Army is asking for donations to replenish food pantries on Hawaii island as demand for assistance grows following Hurricane Lala and as additional storms threaten the state.
The Salvation Army’s Hilo, Honokaa and Kona corps have reported shortages of food staples as they continue weekly distributions. The organization is also preparing its Emergency Disaster Services teams for potential impacts from Hurricane Lowell, which was moving just west of Niihau and Kauai Monday night.
Monetary donations are the organization’s top priority because they allow local corps to respond to changing needs, officials said. Community members who wish to donate food are encouraged to contact their local Salvation Army corps.
Current needs on Hawaii island include canned soup, meat and vegetables, as well as dry goods such as pasta and rice.
The three food pantries distribute between 75 and 150 food bags each week at each location, with an average cost of about $50 a bag, officials said.
The demand has increased following Lala, particularly as residents continue to deal with prolonged power outages and other storm-related impacts. The Hilo Corps reported 20 new families seeking assistance at its food pantry Friday.
The Food Basket, which supplements supplies for Salvation Army food pantries in Kona and Honokaa, has also been responding to increased demand across the island. At the same time, some resources have been directed toward disaster relief efforts in the hard-hit Kau district, contributing to shortages of some staples needed for regular pantry distributions.
“A bag of groceries can make a meaningful difference for a family facing hardship. Many families across Hawaii are already struggling to make ends meet, and the impacts of severe weather have only compounded those challenges,” Major Troy Trimmer, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, said in a statement. “Our officers and disaster relief teams remain vigilant in serving Hawaii, whether in our continued response to Lala, in preparing for inbound weather impacts from Lowell and Karina, and in providing support throughout the daily challenges that can strike our communities.”
The Salvation Army said it has provided more than 12,800 meals and nearly $50,000 in direct financial assistance over the past three weeks to families affected by Lala, with much of the financial assistance going toward households dealing with prolonged power outages.
The organization said its disaster relief teams are continuing to respond to Lala while preparing for potential impacts from Lowell and Karina.
Community members can donate to support the Hawaii island food pantries through its food pantry donation webpage (fundraise.salvationarmyhawaii.org/campaign/840884/donate).
