NAWILIWILI — The holiday came a little early for the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank and its efforts to help individuals and families with food-insecurity.
Kelvin Moniz, KIFB executive director, Kawai Gampon, KIFB programs manager, and the ‘ohana of the Nawiliwili-based food bank accepted a load of 1,333 pounds of food Friday from the Marriott Beach Clubs, which include Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club at Kalapaki Beach and Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club in Po‘ipu.
The collection that arrived in two pickup trucks is the result of an in-house food drive by the Marriott that ended on Dec. 15.
“We have a little more coming,” said Rachel Karimi, a Marriott’s Kaua‘i associate. “This is from the Kalapaki location.”
Moniz thanked the Marriott Beach Clubs’ crew for the load of food, delivery of which had been a long-standing tradition before the pandemic struck the island.
He said the food is welcomed in the food bank’s efforts at easing the anxiety of food-insecurity among many individuals and families that continue to visit the weekly Wednesday emergency-food distributions.
He recalled the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when the food banks hosted employee distributions for resorts that were shut down by the virus.
While some success has been achieved against the virus, food-insecurity remains, and the KIFB will continue to ensure that it will feed people through its keiki programs that include the Keiki Cafe that distributes healthy after-school snacks, the kupuna program where kupuna in groups are allowed monthly shopping privileges, and the emergency food distributions on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.
He said that in addition to taking care of those with food-insecurity, KIFB is also ready to step in during times of emergency and natural disaster.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
