Senior Food Box Program
The Senior Food Box Program, otherwise known as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), provides a monthly box of quality USDA food to low-income kūpuna.
For participating kūpuna, CSFP provides more than just food and nourishment. It also helps to combat the poor health conditions often found in kūpuna who are at risk of hunger and experiencing food insecurity. CSFP helps vulnerable kūpuna from having to choose between food and other basic needs. The food provided in each Senior Food Box can play an important role in combatting the health consequences of senior hunger and, ultimately, can help kūpuna avoid costly hospitalizations and nursing home placements.
Senior Food Boxes are specifically designed to supplement needed sources of nutrients typically lacking in participants’ diets. Boxes include foods such as cereal, juice, protein, milk, peanut butter, dry beans, potatoes, grains, rice, cheese, fruit, vegetables and more.
Eligibility Requirements
The State of Hawai‘i first received approval to participate in CSFP in 2015. The most current CSFP State Plan specifies program details, including eligibility requirements:
- Age: Participants must be at least 60 years of age.
- Income: Each applicant must self-declare that their household income is at or below 130% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for the State of Hawai‘i. Income is defined as gross income before deductions for such items as income taxes, employees’ social security taxes, insurance premiums, and bonds
- Residency: Applicants must reside in the service area to which they are applying for.
- Each participant may receive CSFP benefits at one (1) distribution location.
Please mail completed applications should be mailed to Hawai‘i Foodbank, 2611 Kilihau St., Honolulu, HI 96819, for processing.
Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
1 | $1,876 | $22,503 |
2 | $2,546 | $30,550 |
3 | $3,217 | $38,597 |
4 | $3,887 | $46,644 |
5 | $4,558 | $54,691 |
6 | $5,229 | $62,738 |
7 | $5,899 | $70,785 |
8 | $6,570 | $78,832 |
For each additional household member, add: | $671 monthly |
Participating Food Partner Agencies
Senior Food Box
Distribution Sites
Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor
Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus
Dynamic Compassion in Action at Waimānalo District Park
‘Elepaio Social Services at the Community
Learning Center of MāiliHawai‘i Cedar Church
Nanaikapono Protestant Church
Our Lady of Sorrows Church
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
St. Jude Catholic Church
St. Michael Outreach Parish
The Parish of St. Clement
Program Rules and Regulations
- ID CARD: Participants must present a valid state- or federal-issued photo ID card each month when picking up their Senior Food Box.
- ENROLLMENT: Participants are enrolled in the program for 12 months at a time and are required to recertify each year. At recertification, participants must continue to meet all CSFP eligibility requirements in order to continue participating in the program.
- CHANGES TO INFORMATION: Participants must inform Hawaiʻi Foodbank of any changes to their income or contact information, in writing, within 10 days.
- DISTRIBUTION SITES: Participants may actively participate at only one CSFP distribution site. Participants may request a site change by contacting Jennifer Schantz, kūpuna programs manager, at jennifer@hawaiifoodbank.org or 808-954-7876.
- ACTIVE PARTICIPATION: Participants who do not pick up their Senior Food Box for three (3) consecutive months will be removed from the program for being an inactive participant. We understand that circumstances may occasionally limit participants from picking up their Senior Food Box (e.g. medical appointments, vacations, etc.). In these instances, please contact Jennifer Schantz, kūpuna programs manager, at jennifer@hawaiifoodbank.org or 808-954-7868 as soon as possible to receive an absence exemption.
- WAITLISTS: Due to the popularity of the Senior Food Box, distribution sites may maintain waitlists. If no spots are available at a distribution site, applicants will be placed on a waitlist in the order their application was received. Wait-listed clients are not guaranteed to receive a Senior Food Box each month but they are welcome to attend their assigned distribution site each month. We recommend wait-listed clients check in at their distribution no earlier than 15 minutes before the end of the distribution. At the end of each distribution, any available Senior Food Boxes are distributed to clients on the waitlist.
- NOTICE OF TERMINATION: Participants will be notified in writing if terminated from the program and have the right to a fair hearing.
- FAIR HEARING: If a participant is found ineligible for the program during a recertification review, they have the right to a fair hearing in accordance with the provisions of federal and state law.
- USE OF FOOD: Participants are not allowed to trade/sell CSFP food nor are they allowed to purchase/use someone else’s CSFP food for their household.
Questions About the Program?
Participation in the Senior Food Box Program requires advance registration. To see if you qualify or to register for the program, please contact Jennifer Schantz, kūpuna programs manager, at jennifer@hawaiifoodbank.org or 808-954-7868.
Interested in providing foreign language assistance?
Must be able to read, write and speak in English and any language other than English (Hawaiian, Cantonese, Chuukese, Ilocano, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog, etc.). Basic computer skills and customer service skills are also required.
If interested, please contact volunteer@hawaiifoodbank.org.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
For more information, please read the complete USDA/DES Non-Discrimination Statement.