MAUI FOOD BANK INC

THE MAUI FOOD BANK IS THE ONLY NON-PROFIT AGENCY IN MAUI COUNTY THAT COLLECTS, WAREHOUSES AND DISTRIBUTES MASS QUANTITIES OF BOTH PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD. THE MAUI FOOD BANK COORDINATES SERVICE DELIVERY OF DONATED FOOD TO NEEDY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH A NETWORK OF OVER 170 AGENCIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE FOOD BANK IN MAUI COUNTY, INCLUDING AGENCIES ON THE ISLANDS OF LANAI AND MOLOKAI. THE MAUI FOOD BANK PROVIDES A CHARITABLE SAFETY NET THAT THOUSANDS OF LOW-INCOME MAUI COUNTY RESIDENTS RELY ON TO MAKE IT THROUGH EACH MONTH.MAUI FOOD BANK'S ALOHA BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM PROVIDES A BACKPACK FILLED WITH SIX MEALS. NEEDY STUDENTS RECEIVE THIS BACKPACK ON FRIDAYS TO TAKE HOME. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 34 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM.IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY FOOD ACCESS NEEDS, INCLUDING THOSE RESULTING FROM THE 2023 WILDFIRES, WE EXPANDED OUR PROGRAM SERVICES IN SEVERAL KEY WAYS.WE LAUNCHED DA MARKET LAHAINA, A MARKET-STYLE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND DIGNIFIED ACCESS TO FOOD AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE WILDFIRES. CREATED AS A WELCOMING, CLIENT-CHOICE ENVIRONMENT, THE PROGRAM ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO SELECT THE ITEMS THAT BEST MEET THEIR HOUSEHOLD NEEDS AT NO COST.BUILDING ON THIS MODEL, WE LAUNCHED OUR MOBILE MARKET IN MAY 2025 AS A MOBILE EXTENSION OF DA MARKET, BRINGING THIS SAME APPROACH DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES. AS A TRAVELING DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, INDIVIDUALS SHOP DIRECTLY FROM A REFRIGERATED TRUCK STOCKED WITH FRESH PRODUCE AND FROZEN PROTEINS THROUGH REACH-IN DOORS. PHASE ONE WAS LAUNCHED AT KA LAI OLA, A TEMPORARY DISASTER HOUSING SITE, TO SERVE HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY THE FIRES.WE ALSO EXPANDED EXISTING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FRESH FOR ALL, INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE AND PERISHABLE FOODS. IN ADDITION, WE INCREASED LOCAL PROCUREMENT, SUPPORTING MAUI'S FARMERS WHILE IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND CULTURAL RELEVANCE OF DISTRIBUTED FOOD.MAUI FOOD BANK CONTINUES TO SERVE AS MAUI COUNTY'S PRIMARY FOOD SAFETY NET, PROCURING, SAFELY HANDLING, AND DISTRIBUTING NUTRITIOUS FOOD THROUGH A NETWORK OF 157 TRUSTED AGENCY AND PROGRAM PARTNERS.