CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Colleen LaClair, deputy director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, stood yesterday with a wall of 750 cans of tuna being collected for the Hawaii Foodbank.

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Donations are sought
for annual food drive

Drop-off locations on Saturday
will feature live entertainment

Volunteers will be waiting at curbside drop-off points at more than a dozen locations Saturday to make it easy for Oahu residents to donate to the Hawaii Foodbank.

The annual food drive seeks donations of money, canned goods and other nonperishable food items, distributed to needy people throughout the year. An estimated 118,000 people are fed each week by 250 community and church organizations that receive Hawaii Foodbank help.

People do not have to wait until the weekend. All Honolulu Fire Department stations are accepting canned goods from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow.

Musical groups and local celebrities will entertain during the drop-off hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:

Only food contributions will be accepted at Waianae Mall, Waianae Store, Tamura Superette and Ka Waihona O Ka Na'auao on the Leeward Coast, and at participating military locations: the Navy Exchange; commissaries at Barbers Point, Fort Shafter and Hickam; and Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Building 1.

University of Hawaii sports fans can bring a friend along free if they bring a can of food to the Friday night baseball and men's volleyball games. A "buy one, get one free" coupon will be exchanged for each can.

Cash contributions can be made throughout April in the "Bag Up Hunger" program at all Foodland and Sack 'N Save stores statewide.

The Spam Jam Food Drive sponsored by Times Super Markets and Island Mini-Mart Stores will continue to benefit the food bank through May 3, with coupons available at all store checkout counters.

Canned meats and tuna are the most needed donations, along with canned meals such as spaghetti, chili and corned beef hash. Hawaii Foodbank's goal in the 16th annual campaign is to collect 550,000 pounds of food and $425,000 in monetary donations.

The agency collects food contributions from all major grocery chains in the islands as well as federal food surplus programs. It serves as a resource for community food distribution programs and food pantries run by other organizations.

The annual drive is co-sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank, KGMB 9, KSSK and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.