Food banks in Hawaii and Alaska are the latest to receive large-scale food donations from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of the 2026 250th anniversary of the United States.
After months of nationwide donations, Just Serve volunteers dropped off church donations in Fairbanks, Alaska on Tuesday, June 9, making it the 49th state to receive at least one donation.
Just two days later, Food Basket in Hilo, Hawaii welcomed donations, becoming the 50th state to receive at least one donation.
In May, the church delivered its 100th truck to Joe’s Pantry in Dallas, Texas. According to a June 17 news release from ChurchofJesusChrist.org, Blaine Maxfield, managing director of Church Welfare and Self-Reliance Services, said there is still much work to be done.
“We’re excited to serve all 50 states, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” he said. “We’re doing 250 deliveries, so we’re going to do deliveries all year round.”
Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, said food deliveries are very important to families.
“As a church, this commitment reflects our desire to follow the teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ by uplifting people and strengthening individuals, families and communities,” she said.
Hilo, Hawaii
The church sent a 45-foot container filled with food and supplies, including canned fruits, vegetables and meat. pasta; flour; beans; peanut butter. And dry milk. Most of the products are produced by the church and funded by member donations.
The food was sent to Food Basket, the Big Island food bank, and distributed to 10 nonprofit organizations, including food pantries, faith-based ministries, recovery facilities, and youth and family services.
According to Food Basket Operations Manager Enola Kaneta, 42% of Hawaii Island residents experience food insecurity.
“This is a huge deal for our community,” Kaneda said. “It is such a blessing that the Church is carrying out your work, especially in the welfare sector within the Church, and this extends to our island neighbors as well. Mahalo, God bless each and every one of you today.”
Ted Resnett of Hilo United Methodist Church’s Peanut Butter Ministry said those who ultimately receive the food may never know who gave it to them or who cooked it.
“They just know that someone cared about them when they were hungry,” Resnett said.
boston, massachusetts
The church delivered a semi-truck loaded with more than 37,000 pounds of food to Catholic Services Boston Yorkie Center on Wednesday, June 17th. They were then distributed to communities in need on Saturday, June 20, in honor of Juneteenth.
Cristiano Barbosa, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, said the donation shows that food insecurity knows no boundaries of faith, race or socio-economic level.
“Every family should be able to put enough food on the table,” Barbosa said. “As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding on July 4, when our nation adopted the Declaration of Independence, we owe it to those struggling to end food insecurity in this country now and in the future.”
Elder Allen D. Haney, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s Northeastern United States Area, said the food deliveries are a reminder that “people in our own backyard are starving.”
“May we continue to work together in the coming months and years, so that we can help make this country better and kinder,” he said.
