As a food shortage at Food Basket Hawaii continues into the holiday season, the return of the food bank’s Turkey Trot fundraiser after two years of COVID cancellations may help turn the tide.
Food Basket Hawaii has for months been dealing with an unprecedented shortage of resources, brought about by a spiral of simultaneous factors: the end of federal COVID-era aid programs, rising food prices due to inflation, and increased need and reduced donations as the economy worsens.
In September, Food Basket executive director Kristin Frost Albrecht called the shortage “the most challenging time” ever seen by the food bank and now, two months later, it hasn’t changed much.
“We’re still not getting even a fraction of what we used to be getting,” said Food Bank spokesman Leelen Park. “And for everything we do get, we’re still spending so much more on food these days.”
Park said that the Food Basket has received a $396,000 grant from the state Office of Community Service for food purchasing, but with the food bank spending upwards of $300,000 per month on food — which Park said is “brand-new territory” for the bank — such funding doesn’t go nearly as far as it might have in the past.
Because of the economic difficulties, and the expected high demand during the holiday season, Park said the Food Basket may scale back some of its typical holiday events. While the Food Basket would typically receive many turkey donations this time of year, fewer birds, if any, will be distributed this year.
“With turkey selling for up to $3 or $4 per pound, I don’t think we can do it,” Park said, adding that the Food Basket is focusing on stretching its dollar by offering more nutrient-dense food, such as rice, tofu, beans and shelf-stable low-fat meats.
And while the Food Basket is once again holding ‘Ohana Food Drops throughout the island this December, Park said they may be downscaled as well, “but families should still be walking away with a lot.”
What might help tip the scales in the Food Bank’s favor is the return of its formerly annual Turkey Trot 5K fundraiser on Saturday. While this year’s event is called the “fifth annual” Turkey Trot, the last one held was in 2019, before two years of COVID-19 put the fundraiser on ice.
All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Food Basket to help purchase food through the holiday season.
“We’re hoping a lot of people can register early,” Park said. “For one thing, it’s cheaper to register early, but also it helps us to get a sense of how much we can budget for.”
The event, a five kilometer race and walk, will be held at the Plantation Estates at the Fairmont Orchid resort in West Hawaii and runners with the best men’s and women’s times can win prizes including tickets from Alaska Airlines. Prizes will also be awarded for “most inventive Turkey Trotter racing costume.”
“We spend so much of the year striving to help families and others on Hawaii island with their everyday struggles of putting food on the table,” Albrecht said in a statement. “With the overwhelming need at times, it can weigh heavy on our collective hearts to see so many in crisis. The Turkey Trot event, while a fundraiser, is also a delightful celebratory kick-off to the upcoming holiday season and an advent of joy and good tidings for all in our Hawaii Island community.”
The Turkey Trot 5K Race/Run will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Plantation Estates in Mauna Lani. Participants can register online before the event or at the door beginning at 6:30 a.m. Presale registration costs $45 for adults and $35 for children ages 13-17, while registration at the door costs $50 for adults and $40 for children ages 13-17. Children 12 and under get in for free. People also can register online at hawaiifoodbasket.org/turkey-trot.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.