PUHI — Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Leadership Class students were hopeful Tuesday of exceeding last year’s food collection. So close. Anna Burkman, Julia Safford and Javiera Rojas-Nunez were committee chairs for the schoolwide food drive, with 379 pounds turned over
PUHI — Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Leadership Class students were hopeful Tuesday of exceeding last year’s food collection.
So close.
Anna Burkman, Julia Safford and Javiera Rojas-Nunez were committee chairs for the schoolwide food drive, with 379 pounds turned over to the Kauai Independent Food Bank for its Holiday Food and Fund Drive.
“Last year, we collected about 400 pounds,” Burkman said. “We are hoping to beat that figure. Doing the food drive was not really hard, just time consuming. Most of the food was done by the sixth and eighth grades.”
Kelvin Moniz, executive director for the Kauai Independent Food Bank, expressed his appreciation for the effort put forth by the middle school students. He said they should not be discouraged by the weight. Instead, they should be proud because the food will go toward helping keiki and kupuna as well as serve as food for emergencies.
“The Kauai Independent Food Bank serves a lot of keiki through its different after-school programs,” Moniz said.
Kalaheo Elementary School started the Department of Education food collection on Nov. 19 with 738 pounds of food collected. Kilauea Elementary School added 664 pounds, and last week, KIFB warehouse personnel picked up 269 pounds from Waimea Canyon Middle School.
Leona Perez, KIFB programs manager, said there are plans to pick up more food from King Kaumualii Elementary School and Hanalei Elementary School, where the kindergarten class has already collected 29 pounds.
The KIFB Holiday Food and Fund drive continues through Dec. 31 with a goal of 40,000 pounds of food collected and $40,000.
