Food Distribution

Upcountry Strong provides drive-through food distributions at Oskie Rice Arena in Makawao approximately every six weeks.  Each distribution event is based on a registration system for up to 210 Upcountry households facing food insecurity.  Registrants are given a registration number and a pick-up timeslot.        

With the support of community partners such as Pukalani Superette, Maui Food Bank, Common Ground Collective, Haleakala Ranch, and other generous donors, food staples such as beef, bread, peanut butter & jelly, canned goods, cereal, milk coupons, and fresh fruit and vegetables are provided.  The day before each event, Upcountry Strong volunteers pack food boxes at the Maui Food Bank warehouse.  The non-perishable food boxes are transported to the distribution site on the day of the event.  The perishable food items, such as the frozen beef and fruits and vegetables, are also delivered to the site the morning of the event.   

Each Upcountry Strong food distribution event requires approximately 20 hands-on  volunteers.  The Upcountry Strong board members volunteer their time, not only for every food distribution event, but also throughout the entire year on fund-raising efforts, merchandise procurement and sales, monthly reports, food orders and coordination, emergency food responses, administration and bookkeeping, grant applications, advertising, and social media.  

In addition to the drive-through distributions, Upcountry Strong also serves as a 2-1-1 Emergency Response food provider for those with urgent food needs.