Food, funds keep
Salvation Army
pantry stocked

Answer: A week after a story in the Star-Bulletin appeared about the empty cupboard at the Salvation Army's largest food pantry on Oahu, a responsive public has kept the pantry open with donations averaging 30 pounds of food a day.

Daniel de Castro, spokesman for the Salvation Army, said, "We are very grateful for the public's response. ... Now the pantry is stocked and we have something to give away."

Since the story about the food shortage appeared March 8, Palama has received more than 1,400 pounds of nonperishable food from individuals and school drives. Mililani High School alone donated more than 300 pounds of food, de Castro said.

Century 21-All Islands responded with a $5,000 check two days after reading about the need, he added. Letters will be sent out next week appealing to several thousand donors for monetary contributions.

Canned goods that provide high-protein nutrients are needed the most, de Castro said.

The Palama pantry distributes about five to 20 bags of food between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The other smaller Salvation Army pantries are in Kaneohe and Aiea, which are well-stocked, he said.

Food and monetary donations may be dropped off at the Palama Settlement, 810 N. Vineyard Blvd., Room 9, or the organization's divisional headquarters at 2950 Manoa Road. For more information, call 845-2544.