LIHU‘E — There was no produce sent out, Tuesday when the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch participated in two emergency food distributions.
“There’s no produce, today,” said Andie Stoll-Tolentino, the coordinator of the distribution taking place at the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center. “Instead, today is protein — chicken, eggs, bread, and even snacks.”
The QLCC site traditionally hosted food distributions on Thursdays, but re-scheduled for Tuesday on this particular food distribution.
Leroy Remigio, the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch operations manager, said the QLCC was one of two the food bank was participating in.
In total, the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch provided food to take care of more than 500 families between the two distributions, the second one being at the Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo.
“This QLCC distribution has 7,879 pounds of food,” Remigio said. “That’s enough to service 300 families. The Holy Cross distribution is planned for about 250 families.”
The pair of food distributions come on the heels of the Child and Family Service Festival of Hope for Families distribution, Saturday where the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch provided more than 10,000 pounds of food for the more than 300 families that were pre-registered for the sold out event held at the Vidinha Stadium parking lot.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, the Hawai‘i Foodbank has purchased more than $4.75 million worth of emergency food compared to its typical annual budget of $400,000, states a release from the Hawai‘i Foodbank.
The Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch will also be participating in the food drive, Thursday hosted by the St. Raphael’s Church in Koloa starting at 11 a.m.
The next Queen Lili‘uokalani distribution will be announced.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
