Four Hawaiʻi nonprofits receive critical investment from national anti-hunger organization as SNAP cuts loom

HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — Four Hawaiʻi-based nonprofits, the Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Hawaiʻi Foodbank and Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, have received new investments from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. MAZON is a leading national anti-hunger organization working to strengthen anti-hunger advocacy efforts across the islands.

The four organizations are members of the Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network, a coalition that works collectively to advance policy solutions to ensure that no one in Hawaiʻi goes hungry. Together, they advocate for expanding access to keiki and kūpuna meal programs, strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and emergency feeding programs, building farm-to-community connections, and supporting other long-term food security initiatives.

These Hawaiʻi organizations are among 38 partners in MAZON’s Emerging Advocacy Fund (EAF), a nationwide initiative that supports and expands grassroots anti-hunger work in states most impacted by food insecurity. MAZON’s investment comes at a critical time, while states (including Hawaiʻi) are bracing for the most extensive SNAP cuts in history. 

“To truly end hunger, we need to change the systems that keep families trapped in poverty,” said Daniela Spoto, Deputy Director of Hawaiʻi Appleseed. “This investment from MAZON allows us to tackle the root causes of food insecurity so families don’t have to choose between food, housing, and other basic needs.”

“These extended grants reflect our confidence in these organizations’ ability to create lasting change in their communities,” said Mia Hubbard, Executive Vice President at MAZON. “Through funding anti-hunger advocacy in local communities, we are able to expand our reach and deepen our impact through these vital partnerships. These organizations are on the front lines of the fight against hunger, and this continued support ensures they can maintain their critical work while building toward long-term sustainability.”

In Hawaiʻi, nearly 1 in 3 households struggles with food insecurity—a figure that is even higher on neighbor islands. These investments will help power Hawaiʻi advocates fighting for policy-based solutions designed to break the cycle of hunger and strengthen food security for future generations.