LIHU‘E — Following a three-year absence due to the COVID-19, the Hawai‘i Foodbank, including the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i, turned to the public for support during the annual Food Drive Day that happened at Hawai‘i Foodbank sites across the state.
Kaua‘i hosted seven sites, each one operating from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., across the island, accepting the top needed commodity of money, and other nonperishable foodstuffs to replenish the Puhi facility.
“I called the kupuna, today,” said Lesah Merritt, the manager of Safeway at Hokulei Village, and one of the Hawai‘i Foodbank Advisory Board member. “I told them I needed them, today, and they came early. I don’t know how long they’re going to play.”
Shirley Simbre-Medeiros assembled Na Poaiokamanu O Kaua‘i, translated to mean “the white birds that circle the island of Kaua‘i,” for the day-long experience that started from 8 a.m., two hours before the Hokulei site was scheduled to open.
According to information from Tisha Remigio, the Grants and Communications Coordinator for the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i, contributors donated more than 2,584 pounds of food over the seven drop-off sites. The site with the biggest collection was the Safeway store at Kaua‘i Village with more than 660 pounds of food collected followed by the Waimea Big Save store with nearly 580 pounds. The Hokulei Safeway store tickled the scales at just over 560 pounds.
Remigio said the dollar amounts collected will be tallied and released by Honolulu by the end of the week. This does not reflect the obvious contributions made when Diane Keeler, representing the Walmart Foundation presented an oversized check in the amount of $5,000, and Melissa McFerrin-Warrack, representing the Kukui Grove Center, presented a check for $1,500 just prior to the start of entertainment by Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, Bryson Aiwohi, and Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala dancers.
McFerrin-Warrack said a lot of things were connected to the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i who got the vendor fees from the dozen participating pop up vendors.
“Additionally, we have the Kaua‘i RSVP who will be returning Sept. 9 for its Make A Difference 9/11 event,” McFerrin-Warrack said. “And, a lot of our farmers from the Pau Hana Market display the orange Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program placards. These SNAP benefits program was set up by Michelle Panoke of the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i.”
The Hawai‘i Foodbank continues to accept contributions from the community. For information on how a contribution benefits Kaua‘i, visit HawaiiFoodbank.org/Kauai.
