“Hunger was the Hawaiian concept of hell,” according to Mary Kawena Pukui’s book “Nani I Ke Kumu.” Inside today’s edition of The Garden Island is a brown paper bag you can fill with food and drop off at any fire
“Hunger was the Hawaiian concept of hell,” according to Mary Kawena Pukui’s book “Nani I Ke Kumu.”
Inside today’s edition of The Garden Island is a brown paper bag you can fill with food and drop off at any fire station for delivery to the Kaua‘i Food Bank. The 15th annual spring food drive, themed “If can, can,” begins today and will run through April 30.
“People know their neighbors are being laid off,” said Kaua‘i Food Bank resource development officer Kelvin Moniz. “We need help from the working community — so if can, can. If no can, no can.”
The Kaua‘i Food Bank mission is to provide food for the hungry, respond to emergencies and to eliminate hunger. This year’s goal is to collect $40,000 and collect 40,000 pounds of food. The food bank responded to more than 5,000 emergency food requests monthly in 2008. Almost half were children.
“In the past three months, emergency requests have risen 24 percent,” Moniz said.
He encourages local businesses to do an internal food drive.
“We have packets available that tell you how,” he said.
The packet includes not only a simple form for tracking goods collected and a guideline on how to set goals, but some creative ways to motivate employees by creating competitions between departments, hosting a bake sale or taking a more Lenten approach and skipping a meal to donate to the food bank.
Volunteering for a worthy cause is another way Moniz says community members can lend a hand.
“With the economy the way it is we hope more people volunteer,” he said.
In 2007, 411,738 pounds of food were distributed to nonprofit agencies. That number rose to 483,679 in 2008, Moniz said, representing a 17 percent increase.
“The food that is going out is going out rapidly. The worst is yet to come so everyone needs to pull together,” he said.
The new design of the Spring Food Drive grocery bag summarizes the bank’s goals and also provides a reminder of what the most important nutritional goods are to donate: , fruits and vegetables.
Help by filling the bag enclosed in today’s paper and either leaving it with your local fire station or bringing it to the Kaua‘i Food Bank at the Nawiliwili office located at 3285 Waapa Road in Lihu‘e. Non-perishables are critical and fresh produce is welcome. All perishables must be dropped off at the food bank between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Last year, the county partnered with the food bank by giving them a one-year grant for Food Stamp Outreach.
“By being in SNAP people use our agencies less and in turn that puts more money back into the stores,” Moniz said. “It’s a win-win for everybody.”
April 18 is the spring food drive day held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following markets: Ching Young Village, Foodland at Princeville and Waipouli; Big Save at Koloa and ‘Ele‘ele; Wal-mart, Kmart, Safeway and Ishihara Market.
To learn more, call 246-3809. To volunteer, ask for Michelle; to learn about the food stamp program, ask for Wendi; or to sponsor a food drive, ask for Kelvin.
