HANAPEPE — Reservations were a must, but non-registered families were not turned away Thursday when the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Branch hosted its third Kokua No Ka ‘Ohana food distribution at the Hanapepe Stadium parking area behind the football stadium.
Michelle Panoke, the Kaua‘i Branch office manager, led the registration station set up at the Hanapepe Recreation Center before the newly-registered families joined the line of cars waiting for food pickup in a drive-thru, no-contact lineup set up along the fence line of the stadium’s soccer fields.
“They’re getting some good food,” said Tina Brun, a volunteer with the St. Raphael Church food pantry. “They have an aloha box from Y. Hata &Co. that has ground beef, bone-in chicken thighs, vegetable blends, and Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. On top of that, there’s bread, eggs, saimin, and sacks of potato and onions.”
Kate Veatch, the daytime warehouse manager at the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch, was also excited to be among the volunteers.
“I don’t normally get out of the warehouse,” Veatch said. “I’m not going to miss a chance to get out.”
Tammy Cabacungan, a program specialist with Alu Like, shepherded a group of kupuna who mixed in with volunteers from Koloa Landing Resort and Walmart.
“They’re looking for a reason to go out,” Cabacungan said. “There’re no cruise ships, there’re no meetings, and they get excited because it’s something to do outside of staying home.”
Lee Remigio of the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i Branch said the Hanapepe distribution budgeted for up to 500 meal packages.
The next Kokua No Ka ‘Ohana moves to the HP Faye Park in Kekaha, next Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m., and families needing food need to set up pre-registration for pickup in Kekaha by visiting www.hawaiifoodbank.org/kauai-pop-up, or calling 482-2224.
