LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and employees of the County of Kaua‘i contributed close to 600 pounds of food to the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, Tuesday morning. The contribution goes toward the KIFB Spring Healthy Food and Fund
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and employees of the County of Kaua‘i contributed close to 600 pounds of food to the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, Tuesday morning.
The contribution goes toward the KIFB Spring Healthy Food and Fund Drive which has set its goal at $40,000 and 40,000 pounds of food.
Starting on March 1, the drive continues through April 30 and Kelvin Moniz, the KIFB Director of Food Resources, said excluding the county employees’ contributions, the drive has netted $6,236 and collected 5,361 pounds of food.
Special brown paper sacks announcing the drive were inserted into “The Garden Island” newspaper and Moniz said the big push will be on April 9 when the KIFB hosts its Food Collection Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at sites around the island.
Volunteers are needed to help man the collection sites which include the Ching Young Village in Hanalei, the Kukui Grove Center, Walmart, the Big Kmart, Big Save stores in Waimea and Koloa, Ishihara Market, Safeway and Foodland in Waipouli and Princeville.
Additionally, people can drop off their contributions at any time at any of the fire stations on the island, or at the KIFB Nawiliwili facility.
The mission of KIFB is to prevent hunger, provide nutritious food for the hungry, and respond to emergencies, states a proclamation issued by Carvalho to KIFB along with the county employees’ contributions.
The KIFB is the smallest food bank in the state, yet feeds the largest percentage of the total population in any county, according to the proclamation. KIFB feeds almost 20 percent of the population and is the only food bank in the state accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
During 2010, KIFB distributed more than 730,000 pounds of food to almost 51 active member agencies. That set a 16-year record in demand for food.
KIFB reported feeding more than 11,000 different people in 2009 with 32 percent of those served being children. Adults made up 51 percent of that total with about 17 percent being elderly in need of food services.
The Kaua‘i County Council recently issued a certificate of support to KIFB, noting that in the past two years, annual food requests increased from 57,000 to 116,000.
In 2010, KIFB distributed 730,000 pounds of food equating to more than 973,000 meals for those in need, according to the county council certificate.
Additionally, KIFB has secured more than $1.3 million in new food stamp dollars through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program since 2007, and has been a resource to programs including Keiki Cafe, an afterschool program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, Waimea Clubhouse since 2004. Starting in 2007, KIFB provides for a children’s Back Pack program that, on Fridays, fills their back pack with nutritious food to take home for the weekend.
In 2009, the KIFB was recognized as the Vocational Rehabilitation Employer of the Year by the state’s Dept. of Human Resources, for its commitment to being a resource in the community and providing support for those needing vocational and social rehabilitation.
Visit www.kauaifoodbank.org for more information, or call Moniz at 246-3809, ext. 102 to volunteer for the April 9 Food Collection Day.
