Volunteers make it possible for Food Vault Hawaiʻi (FVH) to hold its monthly Food Drop at Campus Center, distributing about 8,000 pounds of food each second Wednesday of the academic year.Housed within the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Student Involvement & Leadership Development (SILD) unit, FVH continues to play a key role in assisting UH Mānoa students experiencing food insecurity.
Bonnyjean Manini, SILD director, said volunteers are critical to help receive, sort, and distribute food at monthly Food Drop events. The items are provided through partnerships with the Hawaiʻi Foodbank and the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center.
“They exemplify the qualities of empathy, responsiveness, commitment and are fearless of the physical labor involved with the work of helping provide food to those in need but often go unacknowledged,” she said. “Their unconditional assistance makes these events possible.”
Finding joy in helping others
Richard Bradshaw, one of FVH’s longest-serving volunteers and a former religion instructor, said he returns each month for a simple reason: helping others brings joy.
“I think helping others with an open heart and non-judgmentally enables me to doubly enjoy giving,” he said. “Making people happy is the best way to make yourself happy.”
His own experiences as a college student gives him perspective on the challenges many students face today. He recalled comforting a student he knew who felt embarrassed to see him at the Food Drop, an interaction that underscored how food insecurity can affect a student’s sense of dignity.
“I deeply understood how she felt and did everything I could to ease her feelings,” he said.
Connecting through food and knowledge
Lara Hackney is an instructor in the Food Science and Human Nutrition program in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.
She began volunteering with FVH in 2019 through her involvement with The Coalition to Stop Campus Hunger. After the pandemic, she returned and has volunteered consistently since.
“I hope they [students/UH community] feel that FVH is a safe place where they can find something that helps when times are challenging,” she said.
A new volunteer inspired to give back
For third-year physics major Stephen Wagner, volunteering began as part of his Mortar Board service project but quickly took on deeper meaning. With past experience at food banks on Hawaiʻi Island, he recognized how essential FVH is—especially after learning that 84% of the 268 participants at a recent Food Drop identified as UH Mānoa students.
“Seeing the pallets of food empty as people came through made the impact very tangible,” he said. “I hope students feel secure and welcome when they come to the Food Drop.”
He encourages others to volunteer as well. “Community is especially important in these uncertain times, and lifting each other up makes for a strong community.”
How to support FVH
FVH will hold its next Food Drop on December 10, at the Campus Center Courtyard, beginning at noon while supplies last. Its Holiday Drive to help stock its pantry in Hemenway Hall runs through January 2, and the UH community is encouraged to donate non-perishable food items and toiletries at the SLD office in Campus Center Room 208, Monday—Friday, 9 a.m.—4 p.m. (except holidays and weekends).
Monetary donations to support Food Vault Hawaiʻi can be made through the UH Foundation. For updates, pantry information and volunteer opportunities, follow FVH on Instagram or email fvh@hawaii.edu.
UH Basic Needs Fund
If you’re a UH Mānoa student facing an unexpected hardship, the UH Mānoa Student Basic Needs fund offers one-time emergency grants to help you stay on track. Apply or give your support here.
