Hawai’i Foodbank Kaua‘i rolls out new mobile food pantry

Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i on Tuesday rolled out a new service designed to expand access to nutritious food in rural and underserved communities around the Garden Isle.

Food bank officials during a special blessing ceremony unveiled an innovative new mobile food pantry aimed at putting the brakes on food insecurity and driving forward the health for thousands of Kaua‘i residents.

It’s a grocery-style food pantry on wheels that allows families and individuals to choose the food that best fits their needs.

“Food insecurity affects 1 in 4 households on Kaua‘i and 1 in 3 keiki,” said Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Director Wes Perreira in an announcement about the mobile food pantry.

Perreira added filling gaps and reaching all of the island’s families and neighbors is a major priority for the food bank.

“This mobile food pantry is a innovative tool in making sure no family is left behind — no matter where they live,” he said.

The fully equipped, 16-foot refrigerated truck will travel to communities with limited access to full-service grocery stores or regular food distribution points, removing transportation barriers and making sure residents in those areas have equitable access to fresh, healthy food.

It will visit partner sites around the island on a regular schedule, offering a wide range of nutritious foods such as fresh produce, proteins, dairy products and shelf-stable goods.

The mobile pantry — made possible through grant-in-aid funds from the state and the generosity of local donors, volunteers and agency partners committed to ending hunger on Kaua’i — is also generator-powered and self-sufficient.

That gives Hawai‘i Foodbank the ability to respond swiftly in times of disaster or emergency.

This new effort is part of Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua’i’s broader mission to nourish ‘ohana today and work to end hunger tomorrow.

It reflects the organization’s deep commitment to increasing access to safe and healthy foods, broadening its approach to expand food distribution in identified areas of need and strengthening community resilience.

“Food insecurity across Hawai‘i — and especially on Kaua‘i — is a complex issue, and it is important we understand the challenges uniquely faced by our local families, neighbors and communities,” said Hawai‘i Foodbank President and Chief Executive Officer Amy Miller in the announcement.

Miller added that most importantly, the new mobile pantry allows the food bank to expand its reach and distribute more nutritious food to areas of need.

It is, however, much more.

“It’s a powerful example of our community coming together to create solutions that are centered on dignity, health and choice,” Miller said.

Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i last year distributed food for 1.5 million meals, including nearly 370,000 pounds of fresh produce.

Visit the food bank’s website or call 808-482-2224 for additional information.