LIHU‘E — The crew at the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i wrapped up a busy week by accepting 13 pallets of food at its Puhi Industrial Park offices and warehouse on Friday afternoon.
“The Nourishing Neighbors Fall campaign at the Safeway store, Hokulei Shopping Village was a huge success with more than 18,000 pounds of food being provided to those in need,” said Tisha Remigio, the Impact Manager at Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i.
“This achievement was made possible through the dedication and support of Safeway store manager Lesah Merritt, her Safeway store team and the generous donations from the community.”
With a history of Safeway Nourishing Neighbors food being presented to the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i, the leadership team, including Merritt, would normally accompany the shipment to Puhi, or be present when the shipment was picked up by the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i team at the Hokulei Village warehouses.
“Lesah, although not present due to staff shortages at the store, played a vital role in ensuring the success of the campaign,” Remigio said. “Her commitment to helping those in need was evident in her tireless efforts to encourage Safeway customers to donate. Despite the busy nature of the store, the Safeway team consistently demonstrated compassion and empathy towards the hungry population of Kaua‘i.”
In a message relayed to Remigio, Merritt said, “We will always help in any way we can. We are thrilled to be a part of something that makes a significant impact on Kaua‘i with our friends in Puhi, the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i.”
Remigio said the Nourishing Neighbors campaign not only provides essential food items, like peanut butter, pasta, canned chicken, diced tomatoes, and green beans, but it also fosters a sense of community and unity.
“The support and generosity of the Safeway, Hokulei Village, and its partners in this campaign are greatly appreciated and highly valued,” Remigio said.
For more information, and donating to the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i, visit its website at www.hawaiifoodbank.org/kauai/.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
