LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank and the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Branch were taken aback Friday when, instead of food streaming out of their respective warehouses, Donna Rice and Karen Ono, representing the Hawai‘i Realtors Charitable Foundation, presented awards of $6,250 to each of the food banks.
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank and the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Branch were taken aback Friday when, instead of food streaming out of their respective warehouses, Donna Rice and Karen Ono, representing the Hawai‘i Realtors Charitable Foundation, presented awards of $6,250 to each of the food banks.
The funds represent the Kaua‘i portion of $50,000 pledged by the foundation during the launch of the Hawai‘i Realtors Charitable Foundation in April. The funds were pledged to the food banks in Hawai‘i that have been impacted by the novel coronavirus.
Joining the Kaua‘i food banks, the Maui Foodbank, The Food Basket — Hawai‘i Island’s Food Bank, and the Hawai‘i Foodbank, each received allocations of $12,500. Kaua‘i’s share was divided between the two food banks.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has put additional strain on our community resources, including our most basic need for food,” said Moana Andersen, the president of the Hawai‘i Realtors Charitable Foundation in a release.
“Hawai‘i Realtors are in the business of people, so it pains us to think of anyone going hungry during this time.
“We are proud that our foundation’s first contribution to our communities will support local food banks in the critical mission of feeding Hawai‘i.”
The Hawai‘i Realtors include members from the Honolulu Board of Realtors, the Realtors Association of Maui, the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors, Hawai‘i Realtors, and the West Hawai‘i Association of Realtors.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
