In order to take advantage of some extraordinary philanthropy, the Kauai Food Bank has extended its semiannual food and fund drive through this Sunday, Dec. 22. Last week, Executive Director Judy Lenthall received an unexpected phone call. On the other
In order to take advantage of some extraordinary philanthropy, the Kauai Food Bank has extended its semiannual food and fund drive through this Sunday, Dec. 22.
Last week, Executive Director Judy Lenthall received an unexpected phone call. On the other end was a representative of the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation on O’ahu, telling Lenthall the foundation would be giving the food bank $5 for each pound of food donated during the current drive, which was slated to end last Sunday, Dec. 15.
The goal is 20,000 pounds of food and $20,000 in monetary donations, and the foundation has pledged up to $100,000 if the food goal is achieved, Lenthall said.
As of last Friday, Dec. 13, just 11,097 pounds of food, and $13,353 in cash, had come in. Lenthall remains fairly optimistic that when the school-based food collections are brought to the food bank’s Nawiliwili warehouse, the food goal will be met.
Schools confirming that they are collecting nonperishable food items include Kula High & Intermediate, Kilauea, Kapa’a Elementary, Kapa’a Middle, King Kaumuali’i, Wilcox, Island, Koloa, Kalaheo, Waimea Canyon and Na Kamalei.
Food from King Kaumuali’i, Island and Kula had arrived at the warehouse as of yesterday. “We’re hoping the schools push us over the edge” of the food goal, Lenthall said.
Food donations may still be dropped off at any county fire station from Waimea to Princeville, or at the food bank warehouse near Nawiliwili Harbor.
The Nawiliwili location is the place to drop monetary gifts, she said. The food bank, a Kauai United Way agency, will feed 9,000 Kauaians this month.
