National Volunteer Week kicks off

PUHI — The Hawaii Foodbank Kauai took time out from its mission of feeding hungry people to thank the volunteers who have been coming through the Puhi facility since early April.

“This is the start of Volunteer Week that started April 20 and runs through April 26,” said Tisha Remigio, the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai assistant director. ” Safeway Stores with Lesah Merritt is providing us with gift cards we can use to share with our volunteers. On top of everything, Lesah, Mark Bonilla and Les Quisano III are spending time in our warehouse, volunteering.”

Among the group of workers on Monday was Kauai RSVP volunteer Sandy Kimura who has been working with the Ameri SeniorCorps program for more than 10 years.

Earlier in the month, a group of 60 volunteers from Chrysalis Events Hawaii, a destination management company, broke from their gathering at the Grand Hyatt Kauai to spend volunteer hours at the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai to start Volunteer Month.

In addition to the volunteer hours donated, Chrysalis Events Hawaii made a donation of $10,000 that will provide about 21, 000 meals to individuals and families facing hunger on Kauai.

“The combined contribution of funds and time is a powerful example of how businesses can make a profound difference in our community,” Remigio said.

The Points of Light website states that “commemorating 50 years, since 1974, National Volunteer Week has been an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities, and be a force that transforms the world.”

Volunteer Week takes place in April during Global Volunteer Month.