THE PURPLE VAN FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

Pandemic Style

This year of the pandemic has been a challenge which our fearless volunteers have met. As we used our best practices, we continued to obtain food, create food boxes and deliver them to those who have called and requested one.

HISTORY

The economy of the North Shore is still depressed. Affordable housing and jobs are at a premium. We feel like our program fills a need for both the young and old of our community

 

The main thrust of The Private Sector Hawaii is the acquisition and delivery of food, clothes and assorted household and building supplies to families and the elderly in need on the North Shore of Oahu through the Purple Van Food Distribution Program. The charity is an agency of The Hawaii Food Bank where we share in the maintenance costs of acquiring the food. We pick up food from the Hawaii Food Bank weekly and the local Foodland stores. Individuals call our number and request a food box. Volunteers prepare 60 boxes weekly and deliver the boxes to those who have requested one which include hundreds of needy families and the elderly from Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Sunset, to Kahuku.

The Private Sector Hawaii is a 501-c-3 public charity that has been operating in the State of Hawaii since 1987. Our tax-exempt number is 68-0041276. The charity has an all-volunteer staff (no one receives a salary)

 

THE NEED

The Purple Van Food Distribution Program is the only "By Request" food program on the North Shore of Oahu. As a result, the program provides food boxes to those who are homebound, or don't have adequate transportation to reach other food pantries. There is a category of food requests that come from those who are no longer in the job market due to disability or lack of education, and the elderly who are on a very small fixed income. Many of these folks are living in rented rooms in homes, or in elderly/disabled housing, or even in vans and cars in various parks. It seems that these people have slipped through the cracks and need some real help. We feel that taking away the stress of worrying about having food makes the challenges of health and housing easier to arrange. More than one elderly person, many of whom are women, have told us quietly that our food boxes are their main source of food for the month with some minor additions. We go to the elderly housing in Haleiwa and Waialua at the same time each month so as to meet this need.

The Private Sector Hawaii Mission

  • Delivers bountiful food boxes to the needy of the North Shore of Oahu 52 weeks a year with huge boxes at the Holidays.
  • Responds to phone requests—the only "by request" food distribution program.
  • Delivers to the elderly, disabled, families, and individuals without prejudice.
  • Is an all-volunteer charity; no one receives a salary.
  • Is a 501-c-3 Federal non-profit charity.
  • Has been operating on Oahu for 23 years

Known as “The Purple Van”, the volunteers of The Private Sector Hawaii deliver boxes of food weekly to those who call the entire year.

Currently, we are helping a woman and her 20’s son. He has a brain tumor and seizures, and she suffers from a broken back. She is navigating the health insurance path, and thanks us for the food which takes that stress off of their lives.

One woman in her 50s was caring for and living with her mother in the local senior housing. When her mother had to go to a nursing home, the daughter no longer had a home or a job. All summer we gave her food wherever she was staying, with friends or relatives, until now she has a small room at a home in Waialua and a part time job.

We recently met a young mother with 4 small children who was making minimum wage being the clerk at the local gas station. She is sharing a home with some family members, but is still barely making it. Our boxes at Thanksgiving made her eyes widen and big smile hit her face.

A local Hawaiian mother of 3 had a stroke and lost her job. She lives near her family but her situation is dire. She is quite proud, but is happy to receive our boxes when it gets tough.

With the help of the local firehouse, we found an old friend who was on the outs. He was a professional painter, but lost his family when he got caught up in drugs. He used to teach the firemen karate at the local community center and they remember his teaching. At Thanksgiving we left a couple of boxes of food for him at the firehouse and referred a painting job to him. We continue to look out for him and hope that he can put his life together with some attention and basic food assistance.