NAWILIWILI — A load of 20 bags of rice recently helped launch a new recycling program to benefit the Kaua‘i Food Bank. Lyle Otsuka, the general manager of Banyan Harbor, managed by Outrigger Lodging Services, said the idea came about
NAWILIWILI — A load of 20 bags of rice recently helped launch a new recycling program to benefit the Kaua‘i Food Bank.
Lyle Otsuka, the general manager of Banyan Harbor, managed by Outrigger Lodging Services, said the idea came about when one of the Banyan Harbor owners, Puuloa Teves, approached him with an idea, proposing that the Property Recycling Proceeds be used as a donation to the Kaua‘i Food Bank.
Otsuka said Banyan Harbor utilizes the recycling funds to sponsor various employee functions such as birthday cakes, luncheons, funerals and various other events.
“We presented this idea of donating to the food bank to the employee quality committee and they loved it,” Otsuka said in an e-mail. “The committee decided to take 10 percent of the annual proceeds and donate the equivalent in rice, one of the top eight requested items on the food bank’s list. That amounted to a donation of 20 25-pound bags of rice to the Kaua‘i Food Bank.”
The donation comes as the Kaua‘i Food Bank approaches the midpoint of its Spring Healthy Food and Fund drive which has a goal of $40,000 and 40,000 pounds of food.
“We’re happy to accept the contribution and are excited that people can find different and creative ways to help feed Kaua‘i’s hungry people,” said Judy Lenthall, director of the Kaua‘i Food Bank. “With this contribution, we are at about 20 percent of goal.”
The idea behind this recycling donation program is to divert a percentage of recycling funds to buy rice which can be donated to the Kaua‘i Food Bank, or soup kitchens, Teves said in a release.
“A banner will be placed at the Banyan Harbor recycling site to motivate residents and visitors to ‘Ricycle and Help Feed Kaua‘i.’” Teves said. “The overall goal of this ‘Ricycle’ program is to expand it island-wide.”
Teves said with just a little diversion of recycling funds, Kaua‘i could increase recycling and employee morale, be recognized as being “green,” and ultimately, help feed Kaua‘i’s hungry.
“It is amazing how such a small amount has made such a large impact — 250 pounds of rice to help Kauaians,” Otsuka said. “On behalf of our entire Banyan Harbor ‘Ohana, we encourage our fellow Kauaians, if they can, to kokua our Kaua‘i ‘Ohana. Even a little donation makes a difference in someone else’s life!”
Otsuka said the incident brings back memories of when he was 7 or 8 years old and how his mother would make tea-and-rice with sugar as a snack for himself and his sister.
“My sister and I loved it,” Otsuka said. “Years later, my mother told me she did this to help stretch our food as our money ran out before the end of the month. This really makes you think just how far race really does go.”
Lenthall said with the midpoint of the Spring Healthy Food and Fund drive approaching, volunteers are needed to help with the Food Collection Day drive, April 17.
Volunteers will be needed at various times from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Walmart, Big Kmart, Ching Young Village, Kukui Grove Center, Big Save stores in Waimea and Koloa, Ishihara Market, Safeway and the Princeville Shopping Center.
Additionally, non-perishable healthy food and contributions may be dropped off at any fire station on Kaua‘i, or at the Kaua‘i Food Bank facility in Nawiliwili.
For more information, call Kelvin Moniz at 246-3809, or visit the Kaua‘i Food Bank Web site at www.kauaifoodbank.org.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
