Serving together

HANALEI — The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay answered the Weinberg Foundation’s community challenge on Saturday.

Thirty-two club members gathered with power washers, power tools, and trash bags to give Black Pot Beach area a much-needed facelift. Members of the North Shore Lions Club also participated, honoring its tradition of working together on community projects that help the North Shore.

“The Weinberg community day is always a win-win for our Rotary, the Weinberg Foundation and the North Shore,” said Tsajon Von Lixfeld, chair of community service for the Hanalei Bay Rotary. “We are honored to clean up the Black Pot Beach and support local food pantries, all in the same morning.”

The Weinberg Foundation created the Friends Grant Program to encourage and support communities to work together to improve a community’s physical environment.

The Friends Program donates $10,000 to an approved nonprofit of the Rotary’s choosing, after the club volunteers over 100 hours of community service in a one-morning project.

“Black Pot Beach and the Hanalei Bay Pier are gifts to the North Shore and to all of Kauai,” said Marion Paul, board member, Hanalei Bay Rotary. “We believe it is our kuleana to help maintain them for future generations.”

This is the 10th Weinberg Friends project performed by the Hanalei Bay Rotary, resulting in $100,000 being donated to local Kauai nonprofits.

The Hawaii Food Bank-Kauai Branch was selected to receive the funds this year. The funds will be used to support the North Shore food pantries in Kilauea, Princeville and Hanalei.

“The need for food support for Kauai families is greater than ever,” said Michelle Panoke, director of the Hawaii Food Bank, Kauai Branch. “We are very grateful that the Hanalei Bay Rotary selected us to receive these funds.”