NAWILIWILI — Linda Makiramdam was so excited about her kupuna shopping at the Kauai Independent Food Bank, she had to stop and show the Transportation Security Administration people her selections Tuesday afternoon at the Kauai Independent Food Bank facility. “We
NAWILIWILI — Linda Makiramdam was so excited about her kupuna shopping at the Kauai Independent Food Bank, she had to stop and show the Transportation Security Administration people her selections Tuesday afternoon at the Kauai Independent Food Bank facility.
“We had to give up our tickets because the bus was too small,” Makiramdam said. “But when we called KIFB, they said we could still come down and get our food.”
The visit by the kupuna from the Lihue Senior Center coincided with the delivery of food from the Transportation Security Administrationfrom its Feds Feed Families food drive. The drive netted 369 pounds of food for the KIFB while allowing the contributors an opportunity to see how appreciative recipients of food are.
“We appreciate any kind amount, or types of food,” said Kelvin Moniz, KIFB executive director. “This food will go toward the KIFB Keiki Backpack program, and the kupuna program where senior citizens 60 years and older have the opportunity to get fresh fruits, vegetables, bread and dairy products, and a selection of canned goods once a month.”
The kupuna program serves nearly 165 seniors each month, Moniz said.
The Keiki Backpack program provides keiki on the Eastside and in the Ni‘ihau charter schools with healthy and nutritious food on Fridays for keiki who attend the participating programs’ after school programs. In many instances, the food in the backpack is the primary food for the child, and his or her siblings for the weekend.
Travis Medina of TSA said they were happy to participate in the Feds Feed Families program and was pleased to have a tour of the KIFB processing and distribution programs at the Nawiliwili facility.
