LIHU‘E — The coffers may not have had as much funds or as many canned goods as was sought, but they overflowed with aloha Saturday. “I think everyone understands the concept and our theme for this year: If can, can,”
LIHU‘E — The coffers may not have had as much funds or as many canned goods as was sought, but they overflowed with aloha Saturday.
“I think everyone understands the concept and our theme for this year: If can, can,” said Judy Lenthall, director of the Kaua‘i Food Bank. “A lot of people just can’t give this year, but if can, the community of Kaua‘i once again topped the charts in aloha.”
Spread out over 10 collection sites from Hanalei to the Ishihara Market in Waimea, two dozen volunteer groups from the community stepped up to man the stations that raised $14,882 and 799 pounds of food, Lenthall said.
People can still help contribute to the KFB Spring food and fund drive that continues through the end of the month, she said.
The Saturday Food Drive Day totals brings the drive totals to 18,699 pounds of food collected and $29,208 collected. The food drive goal is 40,000 pounds of food and $40,000.
Lenthall said overall, the food drive day dollar donations are down by about 18 percent compared with last year, but the demand for food bank services are up by 48 percent when comparing the first quarter of 2009 with the first quarter of 2008.
“While it is true that the donations are down 18 percent from last year, I believe this is because tourism numbers are down by a similar percentage,” Lenthall said. “It just seemed like there was less foot traffic at the stores this year, and this, of course, impacts the totals.”
Lenthall and KFB board member Paul Douglass made it a point to visit each of the 10 collection sites.
“Without a doubt, the volunteers were wonderful, enthusiastic, hard-working and seemingly everywhere on Kaua‘i,” Lenthall said. “And again, the generosity of the Kaua‘i community is second to none. Even in a down economy, Kaua‘i people willingly share to help others, especially when they know that so many of their friends and neighbors are having hard times.”
Among the volunteer groups, Lenthall said there were people turning out from the Church of the Pacific, Kula School, Kaua‘i High School Key Club, Kaiola Canoe Club, Kuku‘iula Outrigger Canoe Club, Niumalu Canoe Club, Kawaikini Canoe Club, Pu‘uwai Canoe Club, the Lihu‘e Court Townhouse, First to Work, Kaua‘i High School students, the Rotary Club of Kaua‘i, the East Kaua‘i Lions Club, the Salvation Army-Lihu‘e Corps, Timao Health Services, the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club, U-Turn for Christ, the Kapa‘a High School cheer squad, Nana’s House, the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i-Waimea Clubhouse, the Circle of Light Church and St. Raphael’s Church as well as members of the KFB Board of Directors.
Lenthall said there are still collection packets out in the community and the drive has a few more days to run and people can still drop off their contributions to any of the Kaua‘i fire stations or to the Kaua‘i Food Bank’s Nawiliwili facility.
“The heart of Kaua‘i’s people continues to be so generous to the food bank and I am humbled by their support of this important organization,” she said.
For more information, visit www.kauaifoodbank.org
