LIHU‘E — More than 650 families received food packages from two food distributions that took place Saturday.
Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank hosted a drive-thru distribution at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center in partnership with Pepsi and the Wailua Meat Company and volunteers from the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors, the East Kaua‘i Lions Club and the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i.
Crystal Caday-Bargayo and Angel Acorda were busy yesterday. They hopped between volunteering at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center to the Kaua‘i Philippines Cultural Center, where the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i was moving a full Thanksgiving meal to a sold-out crowd of 500 registered families.
The Thanksgiving meal was made possible through a generous donation from Todd Burns, the manager of NAPA Auto Parts and the Pacific Service & Development, who also provided volunteers for the Saturday distribution. The $10,000 donation allowed the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i to get turkeys to complete the meal.
“A big mahalo to Lesah Merritt and Safeway at Hokulei Village for coordinating everything,” said Tisha Ruiz of the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i. “She was able to come through with the turkeys.”
Other contributions to the meal included Bank of Hawai‘i providing a $2,000 gift, and the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative adding $500 that enabled the distribution to include a whole pie for dessert, filling, potatoes, as well as assorted canned foods.
Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin and the ladies from Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala were scattered through the distribution areas, including traffic control, registration, and the distribution line that quickly moved cars through the center.
“I really love helping at events like this,” the Kumu Hula said. “It’s wonderful to see all the smiles from people grateful to get food.”
Kumu and Akala Aiwohi were manning a station containing keiki material such as crayons and school folders that the pair distributed to cars coming through the distribution line.
Other volunteers turned out from the Kaua‘i Filipino Community Council, the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, the Kaua‘i county Agency on Elderly Affairs, and the East Kaua‘i Lions Club.
Ruiz said the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i will be partnering with the Westside Christian Fellowship Assembly of God to host another Westside food distribution, Nov. 18 where 300 packages will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
