KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Island Food Bank’s annual “Feed-A-Thon” raised over 38,000 pounds of food at five KTA Super Store locations islandwide during its 10-day drive.
KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Island Food Bank’s annual “Feed-A-Thon” raised over 38,000 pounds of food at five KTA Super Store locations islandwide during its 10-day drive.
Tommy “Kahikina” Ching, longtime ambassador of The Food Basket, collected non-perishable food and monetary donations from Aug. 24 through Sept. 2 at the stores’ Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa, Waimea, Puainako, and Keauhou locations.
In addition to in-person donations, community members provided monetary ones online and participated in a silent auction with items including rounds of golf at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and Waikoloa Kings’ Course, and adventure items from Flumin’ Kohala, Paradise Helicopters, Body Glove Hawaii, and Hawaii Forest and Trail.
Along with donated food items as well as pounds purchased from the monetary donations, the drive netted 38,348 pounds of food.
“It is always great when we can take a serious and pervasive issue like hunger and attack it with a positive attitude and positive methods,” said En Young, executive director of The Food Basket. “Being with Kahikina for the 10-day stretch reaffirms that we are one community, and that the solution for hunger is aloha.”
The annual fundraising event ended on a high note in a celebration of Ching’s birthday on Friday at KTA Keauhou. Cakes, balloons, and birthday surprises provided a festive atmosphere while fundraising activities continued.
“No hurricane, storm, or lava flow could stop people on Hawaii Island from making sure there is food when and where it is needed most,” said Ching.
One in five Hawaii Island residents are served by The Food Basket through a network of nearly 100 partnering agencies islandwide. With one in three 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.