NAWILIWILI — Chantal Zarbaugh of the Kaua‘i Government Employees Federal Credit Union said even the bag used for the recent food drives were locally-produced.
NAWILIWILI — Chantal Zarbaugh of the Kaua‘i Government Employees Federal Credit Union said even the bag used for the recent food drives were locally-produced.
Monday, Zarbaugh presented the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank with those bags as well as a cash contribution from KGEFCU for the support it received during the recent Feeding Kaua‘i Families andSupport Local campaign that included food drives being hosted at the credit union’s Lihu‘e and soon-to-be-opened Kilauea Branch.
“Eat, Shop, and Bank local” was the theme where Zarbaugh, chairing the effort, said food items were purchased from Kaua‘i farmers and ranchers to form the core of the free food giveaways while supplies lasted.
The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank supplemented the core with additional items, including milk, canned food and cereals.
“This was just a small way we could help the KGEFCU effort to demonstrate support for local businesses,” said Kelvin Moniz, the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank executive director. “They did all the work, we were able to supplement whatever they presented.”
KIFB’s next project involves partnering with local individuals to host a food distribution, Saturday for the Kaumakani area residents following the success and effectiveness of a previous distribution done in partnership with the Valenciano family.
Zarbaugh said her next project involves supporting local businesses by partnering with Lexi Jones of the Rice Street Business Association’s Facebook Live to feature a local musical group that lost all their gigs and ties to local businesses from the pandemic. A local business sits in the jam with an opportunity to speak on Mondays and Wednesdays from the KGEFCU Kilauea Branch.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
