These grocery-style trucks aim to increase food access in underserved areas on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi
Hawaiʻi Foodbank is introducing new Mobile Food Pantry trucks — one on Oʻahu and one on Kauaʻi — designed to expand access to nutritious food for families and neighbors living in rural and underserved areas across the island.
“This truly was a labor of love for Hawaiʻi Foodbank to get this Mobile Food Pantry on the road,” says Kim Bartenstein, Hawaiʻi Foodbank director of agency relations. “We know that 1 in 3 households and 1 in 3 keiki are food insecure, and we know that this truck — this beautiful grocery store on wheels — is going to bring so much impact into the community.”
Kim adds, “The truck will bring fresh, nutritious proteins, produce, dairy, bread and other foods to places where people don’t have access to that. They don’t have a means of transportation, a food distribution in their area, or a grocery store close to them. This will allow us to help fill those gaps and continue to strengthen our community and make sure people are truly getting what they need.”
Each fully equipped, 16-foot refrigerated vehicle functions as mobile grocery-style food pantry, visiting sites around the island on a regular schedule — allowing visitors to select the food that best meets their needs. The vehicles are also generator-powered and self-sufficient, giving Hawaiʻi Foodbank the ability to quickly bring food assistance into the community during disasters and other emergencies.
“We know that 1 in 3 households and 1 in 3 keiki are food insecure, and we know that this truck — this beautiful grocery store on wheels — is going to bring so much impact into the community.”
– Kim Bartenstein, Director of Agency Relations AT Hawaiʻi Foodbank
The Mobile Food Pantries were made possible through Grant-in-Aid funding from the State of Hawai‘i, along with the generosity of local donors, volunteers and hunger-relief partners committed to ending hunger in Hawai‘i.
“This project has taken us three years to get off the ground, so we’re really happy to get these trucks out into the community to serve our neighbors,” says Marielle Terbio, Hawaiʻi Foodbank vice president of strategy and programs.
“Food insecurity across Hawaiʻi is a complex issue, and it is important we understand the challenges uniquely faced by our local families, neighbors and communities,” says Hawaiʻi Foodbank President and CEO Amy Miller. “Most immediately, this new Mobile Food Pantry allows us to expand our reach and distribute more nutritious food to areas of need. But in addition to that, it’s a powerful example of our community coming together to create solutions that are centered on dignity, health and choice.”
“This Pantry is more than a truck — it’s a promise to our community.”
– Marielle Terbio, Vice President of Strategy and Programs at Hawaiʻi Foodbank
“It reflects Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s mission to nourish our ‘ohana today while we work to end hunger tomorrow,” says Marielle.
This message echoes 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.
