Hawai'i Island's Food Bank

The Food Basket is more than just a food bank. They also serve as the perfect example of what a community health hub can look like: a trusted anchor organization that is reimagining what it means to provide “healthcare.”

The Food Basket’s project is revolutionary because it acknowledges something many traditional healthcare organizations often overlook: their staff are also members of the community. First-hand experience with healthy habits–like a plant-based diet–can provide them with the confidence to share their experience with the people they serve. HI’A set out to help The Food Basket prove their health impact by designing a program that offered two healthy, plant-based meals per day to all of their staff, plus a few key community members–including Hawai’i Island Mayor Mitch Roth and his wife–a total of 48 participants island-wide.

The program impact was measured using participant surveys, biometric markers, and microbiome analyses.

Upon completion of phase 1, many of the participants noticed significant impacts in their health and their overall demeanor. Some participants reported feeling happier and more energized during the day – and other participants reported weight loss, lowered blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, lowered A1c levels and improved sleeping.