NAWILIWILI — The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank launched its annual Holiday Food and Fund drive with a successful food collection day Saturday at sites throughout the island. Kelvin Moniz, the KIFB food resources director, said when the dust settled on
NAWILIWILI — The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank launched its annual Holiday Food and Fund drive with a successful food collection day Saturday at sites throughout the island.
Kelvin Moniz, the KIFB food resources director, said when the dust settled on the day-long effort, KIFB had collected approximately $7,000 and about 1,000 pounds of food.
Saturday marked the launch of the KIFB Holiday Food and Fund Drive, which continues through Dec. 31, 2012, Moniz said.
“As the holiday season approaches, the need for healthy, non-perishable food is even greater as families try to have a good meal together,” Moniz said. “Traditionally, the holidays have always seen a spike in the need for food.”
Kukui Grove Center, with 11 collection sites including the Big Kmart store, topped the collections with more than $2,000 collected, the Big Kmart store being manned by the East Kaua‘i Lions Club and collecting more than $1,100, Moniz said.
“We are very appreciative of all the people who contributed,” Moniz said. “In spite of the Alzheimer’s Association having its benefit walk Saturday, we were still able to benefit from Kukui Grove.”
The bulk of the 1,000 pounds of food came from the Princeville collection sites where Church of the Pacific volunteers were out in force.
“I can’t say enough about all the volunteers,” said Moniz, who was stationed at Kukui Grove Center. “The Key Club and the Leo Club of Kaua‘i High School were especially outstanding. With 11 collection sites around the mall, all of the fishnets and collection containers were manned throughout the day.”
In addition to the East Kaua‘i Lions Club manning the Big Kmart location, Moniz said Lions Clubs from around the island were out helping as part of the Lions’ statewide Seven Days of Service initiative.
The Lions Club of Kapa‘a split its membership between manning the organ donor station at the Coconut Festival and having a team collect at Safeway located in the Kaua‘i Village Shopping Center where they were joined by members of the Rotary Club of Kaua‘i.
Other volunteers included the Kalaheo Missionary Church who spread out among some of the Westside collection points.
During the food collection drive, Moniz said there were about 10 contributions, which took advantage of the 2-for-1 match by an anonymous donor.
The primary condition of the 2-for-1 match was the contributor had to contribute a minimum of $150.
Frank Ranger, the KIFB executive director, said just days before the food collection drive, the donor agreed to continue the 2-for-1 match through Oct. 31, a facet which has been promoted on the radio stations.
Moniz said in addition to the contributions of non-perishable food items, there is also a need for turkeys.
Because frozen turkeys are a perishable commodity, he said people contributing turkeys need to drop them off only at the KIFB facility at 3285 Wa‘apa Road in Nawiliwili from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Contributions for the Holiday Food and Fund Drive may be dropped off at any of the Kaua‘i fire stations island-wide. As a suggested starting point for contributions, the top eight most requested nutritious food items include brown, or hapa rice, canned soups, canned vegetables, canned tuna, Pediasure and Ensure, pasta, peanut butter and canned fruits.
Visit www.kauaifoodbank.org, or call 246-3809 for more information.
The top eight most requested food items
• Brown, or hapa rice
• Canned soups
• Canned vegetables
• Canned tuna
• Pediasure and Ensure
• Pasta
• Peanut butter
• Canned fruits
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
