LIHUE — The staff thought they were just short of reaching their food and fund drive goals, said Ron Lemay of Macy’s at Kukui Grove Center.
“We were at 90 pounds of a 100-pound goal of collected food,” Lemay said Thursday during the store’s presentation to the Kauai Independent Food Bank. “But then, someone put some bags of rice in the box, and that put us over the 100-pound goal.”
Lemay, who coordinated the Macy’s food drive with Denise Alcott, said the goal was $1,216 for the staff of 76.
“We raised funds through the bake sale ($119), and raised $597 which will be raised by Macy’s,” Lemay said. “And with the 100 pounds of food, we finished at more than $1,300.”
Kelvin Moniz, KIFB executive director, was joined by Rizalde Tolentino, KIFB warehouse supervisor, and KIFB board member Lloyd Kajikawa in accepting the Macy’s contribution that came with the comment on Macy’s mission to care for the community by store Manager David Reifenberg.
“We appreciate the efforts by the Macy’s ohana,” Moniz said.
This is part of KIFB’s Spring Healthy Food and Fund Drive, which continues through April 30 and has a goal of 45,000 pounds of food and $45,000.
Moniz said through the efforts of a visiting dietary intern, the kupuna program has been further refined to include food breakdowns for more specific needs, such as heart health, and for those who live with dentures and require softer foods.
KIFB is hosting a food collection day to bolster the spring food drive Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kukui Grove Center, Big Kmart, Walmart, and Ishihara Market in Waimea.
Anyone can contribute either cash or food. Items needed include rice and grains, pasta and pasta sauce, protein including canned tuna, soups and stews, vegetables and fruits (nonperishable canned), peanut butter, powdered or shelf-stable milk, and cereals both hot and cold.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
