Dennis Fujimoto The Garden Island
Share this story

NAWILIWILI — The clock showed just a few remaining minutes before doors to the Kauai Independent Food Bank closed for the weekend.

In the short time remaining, Arthur Brun showed up with a contribution of 1,148 pounds of food, and $180 in monetary contribution from Hartung Bros.

“This has been an incredible week with a lot of excitement,” said Kelvin Moniz, the executive director of the Kauai Independent Food Bank. “We have been getting a good amount of contributions, and sent home some extra food for our Backpack Program families at two of the charter schools to help them through the winter break.”

Earlier in the morning, KIFB warehouse staff of Rizalde Tolentino and Ammon Kakazu accompanied Moniz when he accepted 1,657 pounds of food from the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School, the collection being coordinated by school counselor Jonel Elias and vice principal Deena Moraes and the student council.

“This represents students who help other students,” Moniz said. “A lot of this food go to the keiki programs which include the healthy after school snacks and the Backpack Program. Some of it overflows into the kupuna shopping program.”

Contributions continued to flow into the food bank facility as Enterprise Rent A Car sent a delegation with an $8,000 contribution to KIFB Tuesday afternoon.

The contribution was in celebration of Enterprise Rent A Car’s 60th anniversary and part of the $32,000 distributed by Enterprise in Hawaii through its second Fill Your Tank campaign.

“Hunger is an issue that needs addressing in Hawaii, and our donations this holiday season will support those in our community who need a little help to reach their full potential,” said Chris Sbarbaro, the Hawaii vice president of sales and external affairs for Enterprise Holdings.

Sbarobaro said in Hawaii, the most vulnerable are children and the elderly.

The collections go toward the Kauai Independent Food Bank’s Holiday Healthy Food and Fund Drive, which runs through Dec. 30.