Matson makes $5M commitment to local foodbanks.

Matson committed $5 million in cash and in-kind shipping services to the food bank networks supporting communities in Hawaii, Alaska and Guam.

Matson will provide the food banks with ocean shipping of food supplies at no cost for the remainder of 2020 through 2023, as food banks work to meet growing demand.

"We are committing to support our food banks for the next three years in order to help them maximize their capacity to help families recover," Matt Cox, chairman and CEO of Matson said in a statement. “With the pandemic affecting incomes for so many, families in all of our communities are under extraordinary strain, and food banks are struggling to keep up with the need."

Matson's multimillion-dollar pledge is its biggest commitment in support of a community program, according the company.

Before the pandemic, Hawaii Foodbank normally purchased and imported 14 container loads of food supplies annually to accommodate local needs. This year, it will import 107 container loads and estimates it could need 150 container loads in 2021 to meet local demand.

“The global pandemic has changed the face of hunger in Hawaii and thousands of people are needing food assistance for the first time in their lives," Ron Mizutani, CEO of Hawaii Foodbank, said in a statement. "This support from Matson will help us immensely in our recovery and response at a time when our community needs it most.”

This is a continued effort by Matson this year, which has supported Hawaii Foodbank, Maui Foodbank, Hawaii Meals on Wheels, the Show Aloha Challenge, St. Francis Kupuna Meals, Feed My Sheep, KUPU, Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation food drive and The Salvation Army, during the pandemic.

Left to right: Ron Mizutani, president and CEO, Hawaii Foodbank; Laura Kay Rand, vice president and chief impact officer, Hawaii Foodbank; Matt Cox, chairman and CEO; Matson Malcolm Inamine, vice president and chief operating officer, Hawaii Foodbank; Tom Luiz, director of operations, Hawaii Foodbank; Lillian Rodolfich, vice president and chief financial officer, Hawaii Foodbank; and Ku’uhaku Park, vice president, government and community affairs, Matson.