By the end of the year, over 380,000 pounds of food were distributed through the help of 75 member agencies. Since then, the Hawaii Foodbank has grown immensely and now distributes nearly 12 million pounds of food each year. The Hawaii Foodbank has expanded its service to the neighbor islands of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai. Each week it provides food assistance to the low income, elderly, children, ho
meless, unemployed, and those experiencing temporary emergencies. In 1996, the Hawaii Foodbank was voted Hawaii's number one charity by Hawaii Business magazine, with 95% of all donations going to support programs to feed the hungry. The Hawaii Foodbank network is comprised of four food banks: The Hawaii Foodbank on Oahu, The Food Basket on the Big Island, the Maui Food Bank and the Hawaii Foodbank – Kauai Branch. These four are the only food banks in Hawaii certified by Feeding America, the nation's food bank network. This means the Hawaii Foodbank - Kauai Branch is the only food bank on Kauai that is audited by Feeding America and is required to meet strict national guidelines for the safe handling and distribution of food, financial and administrative practices as well as donor/agency relations. The Hawaii Foodbank – Kauai Branch is a participating agency of Kauai United Way.