The Rotary Club of Kapa‘a’s gift eases food security woes

NAWILIWILI — Food security worries were eased at the Boys &Girls Club, Kapa‘a Clubhouse on Tuesday when the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a presented a $10,000 award to Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank in support of a full year of the KIFB Backpack Program.

The KIFB Backpack Program provides nutritious snacks and food for children over the weekends, when schools and the Free and Reduced Meals program is not available. Many of the backpacks are shared with families of the children, who receive the food package that is intended to provide food for the students.

“We have a lot of hungry kids,” said J.R. Guerrero, the B&G Club, Kapa‘a Clubhouse manager. “We’re trying real hard to have the students consider the facility a second home, and the best way is to feed them.”

In addition to the Backpack Program, the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank also provides healthy and nutritious after-school snacks through its Keiki Cafe program. These programs are not restricted to just the Boys &Girls Club.

Josie Cortez, the co-chair for the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a’s Taste of Hawai‘i signature fundraiser, said the award represents some of the proceeds from this year’s Taste of Hawai‘i that was held in June at Smith’s Tropical Paradise in Wailua.

Taste of Hawai‘i raises funds for the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a’s scholarships for graduating high school seniors and eligible college students. as well as awards to other Rotary Clubs on the island and community groups.