{"id":119902,"date":"2020-06-02T15:35:27","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T01:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=119902"},"modified":"2020-07-02T08:46:47","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T18:46:47","slug":"hawaii-astronomy-food-basket-deliveries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/06\/02\/hawaii-astronomy-food-basket-deliveries\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronomy community k\u014dkua Hawai\u2018i Island\u2019s hungry"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>
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Wally Ishibashi (left) helps load boxes for emergency food deliveries.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some families on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island are facing difficulties when it comes to putting food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transportation limitations also keep a number of ʻohana<\/span> from getting to food distribution centers.<\/p>\n

Office of Maunakea Management<\/a> (OMKM<\/abbr>) Senior Advisor Wally Ishibashi<\/strong> offered to k\u014dkua. He asked Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island\u2019s food assistance program, The Food Basket<\/a>, how OMKM<\/abbr>, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Institute for Astronomy<\/a>, Hilo, Maunakea Observatories Support Services and Maunakea Observatories<\/a> (MKO<\/abbr>), could help.<\/p>\n

The move to feed those in need flourished and turned into a weekly production. As of April 27, volunteers meet every Monday to load food boxes into vans and shuttle them to various towns in East Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. So far, more than 200 boxes were delivered to homes in H\u0101m\u0101kua, Hilo, P\u0101hoa, Kalapana, Mountain View and Volcano.<\/p>\n

“We are unable to solve all the challenges of COVID-19, but as we come together, united, we can make a huge difference,” said Ishibashi. “Let\u2019s take care of community first. We always help each other. It\u2019s the right thing to do.”<\/p>\n

In order to comply with COVID-19 guidelines, the drop-offs are a contactless delivery service. Volunteers unload boxes at the home\u2019s predetermined location, wave hello and drive to the next location.<\/p>\n

“The Food Basket is doing such important work, meeting critical—and growing—needs for food security in our community. Our role here is to help them however we can,” said MKO<\/abbr> volunteer Jessica Dempsey<\/strong> from the East Asian Observatory<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Each month, The Food Basket serves about 14,000 people facing financial hardship.<\/p>\n