Celebrate with canned goods and green

LIHU‘E — People will have an opportunity to have fun, enjoy some heavy pupu and help the Kaua‘i Food Bank at the same time.

According to Kelvin Moniz, the development officer at the Kaua‘i Food Bank, Joe’s on the Green in Po‘ipu is sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day Blast where a portion of the cover charge will be turned over to the food bank as part of the Spring Food and Fund Drive.

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17 and Joe’s on the Green will celebrate between 5 and 10 p.m.

A cover charge of $5 or five canned goods for the food bank will be assessed revelers, who can enjoy the sounds of Jose Aguayo and The New Used Cars Band.

According to Moniz, the band has been the talk at Tradewinds, Rob’s and other nightlife scenes.

Another reason to visit Joe’s on the Green, Tuesday, is that Kaua‘i Food Bank Director Judy Lenthall will be celebrating her birthday.

In an appearance before the Kaua‘i County Council Friday, Kaua‘i Food Bank board president Mark Lewis said the goal of the KFB Spring Food and Fund drive is 40,000 pounds of food and $40,000.

Progress was made toward that goal when the Transportation Security Administration dropped off more than 300 pounds of food on the opening day of the drive, recently. Since then, there have been several other drop-offs to add to the Spring collection, Moniz said.

Lewis said people wanting to contribute to the food drive can fill the special sack and drop off at any of the fire stations on the island, or at the KFB facility in Nawiliwili.

On April 18, volunteers will join KFB staff and board members in hosting its 2009 Spring Food Drive Day at 10 different locations around the island starting at 9 a.m.

Sponsors for the Spring Food and Fund Drive include the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union, Aqua Engineers, the County of Kaua‘i Fire Department, The Garden Island newspaper and the KQNG Radio Group.

For more information, visit www.kauaifoodbank.org