DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM The annual Hawaii Foodbank drive at Restaurant Row drew food and monetary donations. Among the volunteers were Jeremiah Liua, Mark Teleni, Kendrick Ngiralmau, T.J. Olomua, Reggie "Soge" Puaauli, Leonard Crichton and James Muafono from Kalihi Valley Homes, who helped collect donations along South Street.

Foodbank’s drive
falls a bit short

The Hawaii Foodbank fell $75,000 short of its 16th annual food drive's monetary goal of $425,000, according to preliminary counts released yesterday.

Foodbank President Dick Grimm said donations could have been down because residents had already donated to the South Asian tsunami aid efforts.

"The support is there," Grimm added. "The people of Hawaii are so giving."

Last year, the food bank surpassed its $425,000 goal for monetary donations, collecting about $442,000 over the course of the four-month drive.

The goal for pounds of food donated was just met this year, with about 550,000 pounds collected at drop-off centers across Oahu.

More donated food is expected to come in over the next few weeks, as other businesses collect their donations and drop them off at the Hawaii Foodbank.

The food drive ended yesterday, with entertainment at eight drop-off centers islandwide and more than 2,000 volunteers collecting money along roadways from motorists.

Foodbank Food Director Sheri Rolf said the food collected in the drive will be given out through the year. Donated items included canned meats or tuna, meals such as spaghetti, chili and corned beef hash, vegetables, fruits and beans.

The funds collected will go to buying food and covering the nonprofit's administrative costs. Rolf said about 95 cents out of every dollar donated to the food bank goes to buying food.

The Hawaii Foodbank serves about 118,000 people, including 43,000 children, in the islands through more than 250 provider agencies. Grimm said the nonprofit's operating costs are about $200,000 a month.