LIHU‘E — Kelvin Moniz, executive director of the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, said the contribution by State Farm Insurance Kaua‘i representatives Thursday is all for food.
“This is all donations made by the Kaua‘i representatives, including Eric Kaneda, Skip Koenig and Darrellyn Lemke,” said Mike Martinez, the State Farm representative working at the Kaua‘i Village Shopping Center office. “The representatives’ donation was matched by corporate State Farm for the $3,400 total.”
Lemke said the Kaua‘i contribution is part of a $40,000 statewide State Farm contribution that included contributions from the approximately 80 State Farm representatives, and matched by State Farm.
“This is all going to food banks,” Martinez said. “All of the islands, the contributions are being made to food banks as a way State Farms gives back to the community in need.”
Martinez sweetened the pot by offering to swap his State Farm cap for the yellow vest of the Lions Club when he learned that Moniz needed physical help for some of the upcoming projects.
“This is all for food right now,” Moniz said. “We have several upcoming projects, including partnering with the county and the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i branch to provide about 500 boxes of food starting May 9 at the convention hall, and continuing for the next four weeks. We’re asking other groups to help out at events like this.”
Mayor Derek Kawakami announced the program during his April 30 daily update.
“For the past five weeks, the county has partnered with various community organizations to help with smaller, targeted food distribution programs such as the Kupuna Kare produce delivery program and the E Ola Ma program to deliver fresh fish on the island’s Westside,” Kawakami said in the video update.
“Moving forward, starting May 9, the county is partnering with the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank and the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i branch to do a mass-food-distribution program every Saturday for members of the public who are experiencing hardship due to COVID-19.”
