Each year, HFS Federal Credit Union chooses a local organization to support during its annual fundraiser. This year, The Food Basket’s “We Got Your Back” Keiki Backpack Program was the recipient of the donation.
HFS members and staff were able to raise $33,312.19 for the program.
“Due to the truly amazing outpouring of generosity by HFS FCU members, over 2,000 vulnerable children on Hawaii Island will receive a backpack full of nutritious and easy to prepare food, which will help them to develop, learn and thrive,” said The Food Basket executive director Kristin Frost Albrecht. “Our warmest mahalo to all the HFS FCU staff and members who donated to the ‘We Got Your Back’ Keiki Backpack Program for your help in making sure all children on our island have enough to eat.”
The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, has provided hunger relief to those in need since 1989.
The “We’ve Got Your Back” program offers nutritional supplements to low-income elementary schoolchildren at schools with a high number of free and reduced lunches. Keiki will receive their bags before long school breaks or weekends, when they might not have meals available to them.
Frost Albrecht noted the number of keiki receiving free and reduced lunches has increased from the prior year. Donations help expand the number of keiki supported by the program.
“This year we are simply in awe of the kindness and support we received from our members and staff,” said HFS marketing coordinator Ashley Yamamoto.
“Mahalo to The Food Basket for having this amazing program available to our keiki and tirelessly working toward ending hunger on our island,” said HFS marketing specialist Jesica Pacheco. “You can tell that they have such aloha for people and passion for what they do, it’s truly inspiring.”