WHO WE ARE

Each week in Hawai’i, thousands of families, seniors, immigrants, mentally challenged, veterans and more recently furloughed individuals are going hungry. Cutbacks, increased unemployment, and laid off workers are just a few reasons for the continuously growing numbers of people coming to Feeding The Hungry for food assistance. Each week teams of Surfing The Nations volunteers commit themselves to serving in the most impoverished communities on O’ahu.

Established in 1998 Feeding the Hungry (FTH) began with delivering food boxes to seven families living in Kalihi. Today, the FTH-Kalihi distribution has grown to over 2,000 people weekly. FTH purchases thousands of pounds of food, distributes and delivers food boxes. Many of our recipients come from nearby public housing, senior care homes, or new immigrants that do not speak English. Coming from public housing, many families have at least one family member working usually at minimum wage and making barely enough to pay rent, utilities. Many have numerous family members with extended family in one household and crime, teen pregnancy, and the rate of high school dropouts are high. When STN provides food to last a week, we help to eliminate the stress that comes with financial distress.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Distribution program that takes placeat different locations on Oahu where STN hands out food provided by
the Hawaii Food Bank to those in need.

Kalihi: Distribution: Thursdays 11:00-3:00 at 1420 Palama Street on
the corner of Vineyard and Palama across the street from Palama
Settlement under the freeway. Bring a smile and a document to show
that you are a Hawaii resident.

Wahiawa: Distribution: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month,12:00-2:00,
at 64 Ohai Street the STN parking lot, bring a document that shows
you’re from Wahiawa or the Northshore.

Waianae: Wednesdays at 2:00 we hand out foodbags in the rest camp
parking lot next to where we have our Ulo Pono Surfclub, surf and swim
lessons.

Haleiwa: Fridays, 2:00 at Ali’i beach park where we provide a hot meal
and a food bag to get you through the week.

Fresh produce, canned goods, breads and desserts, refrigerated items

WHO WE WORK WITH

Every Thursday afternoon FTH provides food boxes, the safe place for friends to gather while waiting, life skills classes, and once a month gently used clothing, toiletries, and household items.

With a growing homeless population living on the beaches of the west side of the island, the state began to use abandoned buildings to house veterans, mentally challenged and families needing shelter. In February of 2007, in an effort to help the homeless and working poor who would have to forgo a meal in order pay for another pressing need STN began to serve in a new location surrounded by these shelters. Twice a month STN serves food boxes to these who are making every attempt to move from homelessness to a home. The food STN provides allows them to save some money and transition to a permanent home. In this location STN serves over 500 people a month and give approximately 20,000 pounds of food.

After the purchase of the property in Wahiawa, STN made two bold moves.  The goal was to reach out to the community where STN is located and the surrounding area. In 2010 STN launched an outreach to the North Shore homeless community where many have been kicked out of other locations and end up living in their cars on the beach. A small team of STN volunteers prepare home cooked meals, pack donated clothing and desperately needed items and show up to hang out with the homeless for the day. Often it will involve teaching the children how to swim or playing ball but the idea is to bring compassion and love to those starving and needing a distraction from their plight.

NEEDS AND FUTURE PLANS

If you were to drive into Wahiawa you would enter over a bridge and surrounded by forest. Deep in this area are hidden pockets of homeless hiding out hoping daily that their makeshift home will not be raided by law enforcement or a community that views them as the stain of Wahiawa. Many are afraid to receive help or lack the required documents get additional resources. Help is limited for those that cannot or will not help themselves, but STN serves them hot meals and hope. This progress is slow but passion to serve them and the community is great.

The short-term goals of STN are to grow FTH in one or two locations that need our help. In order to store food STN would like to build a food pantry that can hold at 10,000 pounds of food. To be more efficient and to better meet the growing needs of this ministry, FTH long-term goals are to build a commercial kitchen, a center for distribution of food, a parking lot and storage facilities. To accomplish the needed changes, financial assistance from outside sources is a necessity. Currently, STN is a 100% volunteer organization but we cannot do it alone. STN needs your support.