Economy eating away at isle food pantries
Catholic Charities Hawai’i / Many people and businesses are already feeling the effects of the economy’s downswing with increases in costs of living and unemployment. Perhaps hurting even more so are charitable organizations that depend on generous donations to keep their services functioning. Places like the food pantry of Catholic Charities Hawai’i, among many other like-organizations, are feeling the pinch.
Catholic Charities Hawai’i (CCH), an organization with more than 30 different programs designed to help people become self-sufficient, is starting to see their already small food pantry empty out due to a larger number of people seeking assistance. The dwindling supply at CCH is one out of many in a network of pantries across the island that offer help to those who may find themselves short on food or money. As the pantry services the community–it served more than 1,300 people last year–it also depends on the community to receive donations.
Diane Terada of CCH says many of the pantries on the island seem to be running low on staple foods, something that isn’t very common. There are more people who need assistance and fewer donations are coming in to support the influx.
The trend is not only affecting CCH’s food pantry, but also many of the larger pantries. Terada says there are more and more calls coming in from other food pantries around the island looking for help. Even the Hawai’i Foodbank is struggling to keep staples on the shelves.
“All of the food pantries are hurting right now,” says Terada, “The donations do not meet the demand.”
With more and more pantries running low on food, there are fewer options for people in need. The down economy may make it a struggle for many and times could be rough for years to come.
To help alleviate the problem, groups are stepping up with donations. Terada says the church is helping as much as it can, as well as the senior center run by CCH. She is hopeful that the Thanksgiving season will bring in a larger surplus of food but stresses the need to restock the shelves now.
If interested in donating, CCH welcomes all unexpired, nonperishable foods, but particularly needs staple foods such as canned meats, canned prepared meals, canned fruit or vegetables, dry cereal or saimin and bags of rice.
Donations may be brought the CCH main office at 2745 Pali Hwy., 595-5900
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