The Food Basket’s annual Feed-A-Thon raised more than 73,000 pounds of food during its 10-day drive at KTA Super Stores and Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union locations islandwide.
Tommy “Kahikina” Ching, longtime ambassador of The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, collected nonperishable food and monetary donations from Feb. 8-17 at the Puainako, Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa, Waimea and Keauhou KTA Super Stores. HCFCU paralleled the efforts by raising funds and collecting food at its branches.
This year’s total of 73,579 pounds far surpassed the 38,348 pounds collected during last year’s drive, which was cut short and impacted by the threat of severe storms. The food will go directly toward feeding the hungry on Hawaii Island.
“My ‘Hunger Angel’ provided us with overall a very nice jump start, which gave a boost to the volume raised,” Ching said.
That anonymous donor kicked off the drive with a donation of 11,156 pounds of food.
The community’s dollar-by-dollar and can-by-can heeded Ching’s infamous “one can if can” advice.
“Mahalo to those that gave what they could and local businesses for continuing to support the annual drive,” Ching said. “When we all join hands, powerful things can happen.”
“Another year of the ‘Feed-A-Thon’ is in the books, and we are appreciative of the community’s continued support,” said En Young, The Food Basket’s executive director. “This drive brings out a unique opportunity that allows us to connect with our community firsthand. It’s one of the unique aspects of a 10-day, islandwide drive.”
One in 5 Hawaii Island residents are served by The Food Basket through a network of nearly 100 partnering agencies islandwide. With 1 in 3 children in Hawaii County eligible for free or reduced school meals, and many families and kupuna facing high levels of food insecurity, The Food Basket is in need of community support on a yearly basis.
For more information about ways to help feed the hungry on Hawaii Island year-round, contact The Food Basket at 933-6030 or visit www.hawaiifoodbasket.org.
