Churches step up to feed Hawaii’s hungry as need grows

On Thanksgiving Day, families gather in gratitude for a bountiful feast, but many are also struggling to put food on the table.

Food insecurity in Hawaii, where the cost of living is especially high, is on the rise during a year fraught with upheaval, job cuts, inflation and a temporary suspension of food stamp benefits during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

Oahu churches, many in partnership with the Hawaii Foodbank, are stepping up to feed the hungry — not just on Thanksgiving Day, but year-round with the help of dozens of volunteers showing a spirit of caring and aloha.

The Hawaii Foodbank partners with more than 250 churches and organizations to offer food pantries and distribution events — from small neighborhood churches to megachurches of all denominations acro