Hawaii's people gave what they could to help feed the hungry yesterday during the Hawaii Foodbank's 12th annual statewide food drive. Donors bring cash,
food for isle hungry
By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin"The cutest thing was one little boy gave a pickle jar of coins he had saved for a whole month just to bring it down today," said Foodbank staff member Iwa Peppers.
Peppers helped bag lots of one-, five-, 10- and 20-dollar bills and rolls of coins at Restaurant Row on Ala Moana Boulevard. It was the state's largest collection site, the center for Oahu coalition drop-offs.
At Restaurant Row alone, individuals, coalitions and businesses dropped off 101,219 pounds of food yesterday. Food from all sites was taken to the Mapunapuna base for inspection. Collections of money and food will be tallied within the next few weeks.
A lot of protein - canned meats, tuna, soup and beans - was collected this year, and "that's what we were striving to get," said Dick Grimm, Foodbank president.About 2,400 volunteers contributed their time and energy at more than a dozen sites around the state.
The Restaurant Row site had 700 volunteers helping out.
"There were really a lot of nice, generous people," said Sheri Rolf, food drive chairwoman.
"You can tell the spirit of the people. There was one lady waving a dollar bill and dancing around, sticking her fish net out for donations," she said.
"People were generous with their time and with what they have to give, whether it's a can of tuna or a whole case lot," Rolf said.