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Senior Food Box Program

The Senior Food Box Program, otherwise known as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), provides a monthly box of quality USDA food to low-income kūpuna.

For participating kūpuna, CSFP provides more than just food and nourishment. It also helps to combat the poor health conditions often found in kūpuna who are at risk of hunger and experiencing food insecurity. CSFP helps vulnerable kūpuna from having to choose between food and other basic needs. The food provided in each Senior Food Box can play an important role in combatting the health consequences of senior hunger and, ultimately, can help kūpuna avoid costly hospitalizations and nursing home placements. 

Senior Food Boxes are specifically designed to supplement needed sources of nutrients typically lacking in participants’ diets. Boxes include foods such as cereal, juice, protein, milk, peanut butter, dry beans, potatoes, grains, rice, cheese, fruit, vegetables and more.

Eligibility Requirements

The State of Hawaiʻi first received approval to participate in CSFP in 2015. The most current CSFP State Plan specifies program details, including eligibility requirements:

  • Age:  Participants must be at least 60 years of age.
  • Income: Each applicant must self-declare that their household income is at or below 130% of the US Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for the State of Hawaii. Income is defined as gross income before deductions for such items as income taxes, employees’ social security taxes, insurance premiums, and bonds
  • Residency: Applicants must reside in the service area to which they are applying for.
  • Each participant may receive CSFP benefits at one (1) distribution location.

Original applications should be mailed to:

Hawaiʻi Foodbank
2611 Kilihau St.
Honolulu, HI  96819

Household Size
Monthly Income
Annual Income
1
$1,817
$21,801
2
$2,457
$29,484
3
$3,098
$37,167
4
$3,738
$44,850
5
$4,378
$52,533
6
$5,018
$60,216
7
$5,659
$67,899
8
$6,299
$75,582
For each additional household member, add:
$641 monthly

Participating Food Partner Agencies

Senior Food Box
Distribution Sites

  • Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor

  • Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus

  • Dynamic Compassion in Action at Waimānalo District Park

  • Elepaio Social Services at the Community
    Learning Center of Māili

  • Hawaii Cedar Church

  • Nanaikapono Protestant Church

  • Our Lady of Sorrows Church

  • St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

  • St. Jude Catholic Church

  • St. Michael Outreach Parish

  • The Parish of St. Clement

Program Rules and Regulations

  • ID CARD: Participants must present a valid state- or federal-issued photo ID card each month when picking up their Senior Food Box.
  • ENROLLMENT: Participants are enrolled in the program for 12 months at a time and are required to recertify each year. At recertification, participants must continue to meet all CSFP eligibility requirements in order to continue participating in the program.
  • CHANGES TO INFORMATION: Participants must inform Hawaiʻi Foodbank of any changes to their income or contact information, in writing, within 10 days.
  • DISTRIBUTION SITES: Participants may actively participate at only one CSFP distribution site. Participants may request a site change by contacting Jennifer Schantz, kupuna programs manager, at jennifer@hawaiifoodbank.org or 808-954-7876.
  • ACTIVE PARTICIPATION: Participants who do not pick up their Senior Food Box for three (3) consecutive months will be removed from the program for being an inactive participant. We understand that circumstances may occasionally limit participants from picking up their Senior Food Box  (e.g. medical appointments, vacations, etc.). In these instances, please contact Jennifer Schantz, kupuna programs manager, at jennifer@hawaiifoodbank.org or 808-954-7868 as soon as possible to receive an absence exemption.
  • WAITLISTS: Due to the popularity of the Senior Food Box, distribution sites may maintain waitlists. If no spots are available at a distribution site, applicants will be placed on a waitlist in the order their application was received. Wait-listed clients are not guaranteed to receive a Senior Food Box each month but they are welcome to attend their assigned distribution site each month. We recommend wait-listed clients check in at their distribution no earlier than 15 minutes before the end of the distribution. At the end of each distribution, any available Senior Food Boxes are distributed to clients on the waitlist.
  • NOTICE OF TERMINATION: Participants will be notified in writing if terminated from the program and have the right to a fair hearing.
  • FAIR HEARING: If a participant is found ineligible for the program during a recertification review, they have the right to a fair hearing in accordance with the provisions of federal and state law.
  • USE OF FOOD: Participants are not allowed to trade/sell CSFP food nor are they allowed to purchase/use someone else’s CSFP food for their household.
Smiling elderly woman receiving a Senior Food Box filled with nutritious food from Hawaii Foodbank, ensuring food security for kupuna.

Questions About the Program?

Participation in the Senior Food Box Program requires advance registration. To see if you qualify or to register for the program, please contact  Jennifer Schantz, kupuna programs manager, at jennifer@hawaiifoodbank.org or 808-954-7868.

Interested in providing foreign language assistance?

Must be able to read, write and speak in English and any language other than English (Hawaiian, Cantonese, Chuukese, Ilocano, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog, etc.). Basic computer skills and customer service skills are also required.

If interested, please contact volunteer@hawaiifoodbank.org.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

For more information, please read the complete USDA/DES Non-Discrimination Statement

Federal Poverty Guidelines

Household Size
200% Monthly Gross Income (BBCE Household)
130% Monthly Gross Income (Regular Household)
100% Monthly Net Income
1
$2,606
$1,694
$1,303
2
$3,510
$2,282
$1,755
3
$4,416
$2,870
$2,208
4
$5,320
$3,458
$2,660
5
$6,226
$4,047
$3,113
6
$7,130
$4,635
$3,565
7
$8,036
$5,223
$4,018
8
$8,940
$5,811
$4,470
9
$9,846
$6,400
$4,923
10
$10,752
$6,989
$5,376
11
$11,658
$7,578
$5,829
12
$12,564
$8,167
$6,282
13
$13,470
$8,756
$6,735
14
$14,376
$9,345
$7,188
15
$15,282
$9,934
$7,641
16
$906
$589
$453

Note: 200% BBCE Monthly Gross Income (MGI) is based on 100% SNAP Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
BBCE – Broad-based Categorical Eligibility

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Federal Poverty Guidelines

Household Size
200% Monthly Gross Income
(BBCE Household)
130% Monthly Gross Income
(Regular Household)
100% Monthly Net Income
1
$2,606
$1,694
$1,303
2
$3,510
$2,282
$1,755
3
$4,416
$2,870
$2,208
4
$5,320
$3,458
$2,660
5
$6,226
$4,047
$3,113
6
$7,130
$4,635
$3,565
7
$8,036
$5,223
$4,018
8
$8,940
$5,811
$4,470
9
$9,846
$6,400
$4,923
10
$10,752
$6,989
$5,376
11
$11,658
$7,578
$5,829
12
$12,564
$8,167
$6,282
13
$13,470
$8,756
$6,735
14
$14,376
$9,345
$7,188
15
$15,282
$9,934
$7,641
16
$906
$589
$453

Note: 200% BBCE Monthly Gross Income (MGI) is based on 100% SNAP Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
BBCE – Broad-based Categorical Eligibility