Debunking these common myths can help destigmatize food assistance, nourish our ʻohana and end hunger
Hunger is closer to a lot of us than we might realize. With the aftermath of the pandemic and record inflation rates, 1 in 6 people in Hawaiʻi continue to struggle with hunger daily. Food insecurity impacts our neighbors, our friends, our family, our keiki, our kūpuna and many more. A lot of misconceptions can exist when it comes to hunger in our communities. If we can debunk these four myths about hunger, we can help raise awareness of the problem and loosen its grasp on our neighbors in need.
Myth 1: Most people experiencing hunger are unemployed and/or homeless.
The truth is, many of those struggling with hunger come from working middle-class families. These households make too much money to receive government assistance but still not enough to cover all the daily necessities. With continued inflation, Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living, and recent events such as COVID-19 and the Maui wildfires, it has become more and more challenging for many Hawaiʻi residents to keep food on the table.
An average of nearly 160,000 people have been turning to Hawaiʻi Foodbank for help each month, and that number continues to trend upward.
Myth 2: Food banks only provide unhealthy, processed options — like canned and boxed goods.
False! A quarter of the food Hawaiʻi Foodbank distributes is fresh produce. Understanding the importance of having nutritious options available at all times, we are heavily focused on increasing accessibility to safe and healthy food, both perishable and shelf-stable. When budgets are stretched thin, though, fresh produce is one of the first things to come off the grocery list. Accordingly, many end up resorting to cheaper, processed options that often lead to long-term health consequences like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
In 2020, we established our Farm to Families program, through which we purchase fresh, healthy, Hawaiʻi-grown food directly from local farmers and then distribute that food to those in our community facing hunger. Since the program’s inception, we’ve distributed nearly 8 million pounds of fresh, locally grown produce while investing in more than 40 local farms, farm hubs and producers.
Myth 3: Food waste and hunger are different problems with different solutions.
Actually, food waste and hunger are closely related. Within the U.S., 72 billion pounds of good food go to waste each year. At the same time, 44 million people are struggling with food insecurity. Organizations across the nation, including Hawaiʻi Foodbank and Feeding America, are working with food companies, farmers and other partners to gather some of this food before it goes to waste for distribution to families in need. Rescuing food is a key component to solving the hunger problem, especially in Hawaiʻi.
Myth 4: I can’t help our community to overcome challenges like hunger and food waste.
Completely false! There are so many ways you can make a difference in our community — whether it be out in the field with one of our hunger relief partners or by yourself from the comfort of your own home. Monetary donations are a simple but great way to support Hawaiʻi Foodbank. It allows us to purchase exactly what our community needs. Your dollars go even further with us, as our deep discounts let us purchase food in larger quantities at a lower cost than the average person shopping at the grocery store. A $25 donation can provide food for more than 50 meals.
In addition to monetary donations, you can support our mission by volunteering, hosting a food drive, donating food, advocating and reducing your own food waste.
