PO‘IPU — The mood was a little more relaxed Thursday when The Point at Po‘ipu partnered with the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank for its food distribution for employees, both those back to work and those still on furlough.
“They told us we might start work Oct. 15,” said Nora Andan, one of the employees waiting to return to work. “We have not been working since this thing started. It’s been a long time.”
Oct. 15 coincides with the date Gov. David Ige announced the easing of restrictions on trans-Pacific air travel.
“The phones have been ringing,” said one employee who could not don her gloves because of the need to dart in and out of the room where phones were situated. “There are a lot of people calling. They have reservations but can’t find airline seats. Others want to know if we’re open.”
The KIFB got the help of volunteers from the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i, and The Point in moving more than 100 packages of food to its employees.
“This is a lot of food,” Jaime Shigeta, The Point’s manager, said as she greeted each car that rolled into the no-contact drive-thru area. “Are you ready to come back?” she asked.
Recipients received a bag of groceries, including coffee left over from the Kaua‘i Coffee distribution last week, assorted canned goods, and even a bag of fresh produce from a Kekaha farm that featured fresh long beans and sweet potatoes. Other items included eggs, bread and a box of cereal that Wynde Thomas, a volunteer with the Zonta Club, had a hard time letting go.
“This is my dream job,” she said. “Lucky Stars is my favorite, and I get a whole cart of them.”
Another distribution was taking place at St. Raphael Church, which partnered with the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Branch in hosting its distribution that takes place on the third Thursday of each month.
The KIFB partners with the Football Officials of Kaua‘i Saturday when they host a food distribution for “anyone affected by the COVID-19” in the parking lot fronting the Aloha Sweet Delites in Kaumakani. Distribution starts at 9 a.m. until supplies are exhausted.
Starting Tuesday, both the KIFB and HFKB will be working with the County of Kaua‘i in the Kupa‘a Kaua‘i food distribution program that will run through the end of December, funded by federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds.
Preregistration starts today by clicking on the survey link located at kauai.gov/COVID-19.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
