Kauai Food Bank, Inc., a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization, was formally established in the State of Hawaii in late December of 1994.
The circumstances of the organization’s birth were nothing less than catastrophic. On September 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai, the northernmost island in the 50th State, and left thousands of people homeless and subsequently unemployed. In the aftermath, community heroes and heroines first formed the grassroots Kauai Food Bank amidst incredible environmental and economic chaos and emotional upheaval. The storm was classified Category 5, and prior to September 11, 2001, was considered the third worst national disaster in the history of the United States.
Initially operated purely by volunteers, Kauai Food Bank distributed over five million pounds of emergency food directly to hurricane victims. By 1994, Kauai Food Bank served about 10,000 individuals per month, or about 20 percent of the island’s population. That year, Kauai Food Bank incorporated, obtained recognition as a 501 (c)(3), and subsequently developed into a professionally staffed, award-winning organization. It has earned the reputation of being the most innovative food bank in Hawaii and earned numerous national awards in the process.
Today the Kauai Food Bank employs 7 full time staff. We are able to do what we do with the supportive cadre of dedicated volunteers within our community as well as visitors looking to give back to the island. Yearly over 2,000 hours of volunteer time is donated through food drives, distributing agencies, and time spent assisting in our warehouse. Kauai Food Bank distributes over 220,000 pounds of food annually to feed roughly 100,000 meals and snacks to those in need. We receive approximately 540 monthly requests for emergency food services. With help from individual community members, businesses, groups, and organizations we are blessed with over 20,000 pounds of donated goods and a varying amount of monetary donations on a monthly basis.