PUHI There was no toilet paper, paper towels or disinfectants, but that didnt matter Thursday when the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School leadership class wrapped up its annual food drive benefiting the Kauai Independent Food Bank.
PUHI — There was no toilet paper, paper towels or disinfectants, but that didn’t matter Thursday when the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School leadership class wrapped up its annual food drive benefiting the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank.
The drive, headed by teacher Laura Estrada, coincides with the opening of the KIFB Spring Healthy Food and Fund Drive that opened March 1 with goals of 45,000 pounds of food and $45,000. The CKMS food drive added 991 pounds toward the food goal.
Kelvin Moniz, KIFB executive director, said the food drive normally replenishes the KIFB stores that are taxed during the higher-than-normal demand during the holidays.
“This is when we catch up,” Moniz said. “We usually get food from the spring drive that allows us to keep food through the end of March.”
But that was before the advent of COVID-19.
“Part of the collection today will go to the Healthy Food and Fund Drive,” Moniz said. “Part of it will be set aside in anticipation of COVID and the anticipated consequences.”
Moniz said a lot of their programs, like the Keiki Cafe and backpack programs, will have a break because of the state Department of Education spring break.
“But things are changing rapidly,” Moniz said. “We need to be ready.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
