NAWILIWILI — Brad Snyder of Kaua‘i Lagoons said this week Marriott employees far surpassed their contribution to the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank last year. Two trucks were required to transport the load — 10,794 pounds of food — from the
NAWILIWILI — Brad Snyder of Kaua‘i Lagoons said this week
Marriott employees far surpassed their contribution to the Kaua‘i
Independent Food Bank last year.
Two trucks were required to transport the load — 10,794 pounds
of food — from the collection site at Kalapaki Beach.
NAWILIWILI — Brad Snyder of Kaua‘i Lagoons said this week Marriott employees far surpassed their contribution to the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank last year.
Two trucks were required to transport the load — 10,794 pounds of food — from the collection site at Kalapaki Beach.
“Wow!” said Kelvin Moniz, the KIFB director of food resources. “The Kaua‘i Marriott ‘Ohana Holiday Food Drive was above and beyond the pounds Chuck Brady and the rest of the gang estimated. This is the best Marriott ‘Ohana Food Drive ever!”
Moniz said in 2007, Marriott collected 8,878 pounds; in 2008, the collection weighed in at 7,585 pounds; and in 2009, the total came in at 5,835 pounds.
“This is almost the combined weights of the 2008-2009 drives,” Moniz said, ecstatic beyond words. “The KIFB staff and its Board of Directors would like to send out a big mahalo nui loa to the Marriott ‘Ohana for another successful Holiday Food Drive. With the Marriott contribution, the KIFB has received more than 34,800 pounds of food.”
That amount brings KIFB closer to its Holiday Food and Fund Drive goal of 40,000 pounds of food and $40,000. The current monetary total collected is $20,896.
But Moniz said the day was not done because during the afternoon run, James Hughes, the KIFB truck driver, brought back 986 pounds of food from a drive conducted by Koloa School.
That pushes the total weight to more than 35,000 pounds with a collection from E Pule Kakou pending that evening.
But the surprises were still coming as Moniz said KIFB received donations of two automobiles just the day before — one, a 1999 Nissan Frontier pickup contributed by URS Corp. with a Honolulu address.
“That truck was parked in the Marriott’s employee parking lot and is in good shape,” Moniz said. “When I went to pick it up after getting the paperwork, I didn’t even need a battery. It just started up.”
Moniz said the other vehicle was a 1997 Ford Explorer donated by a resident in Princeville.
“We don’t count these until the vehicles get sold,” Moniz said. “But we don’t put high prices on them. Usually, the cars go for about the Kelley Blue Book prices.”
With a deadline of Dec. 15 for the KIFB Holiday Food and Fund Drive, people can still drop off their contributions at any of the Kaua‘i fire stations and at the KIFB Nawiliwili facility.
Visit www.kauaifoodbank.org for more information or call 246-3809.
