Hungry For The Holiday
Not even Norman Rockwell could paint a better Thanksgiving. From left: Gerald Shintaku of Kraft, Dick Grimm of the Foodbank, Randy Slentz of Times, Sweetie Pacarro, Herbert Gushikuma of Don Quijote, Angela Baker of Tamura’s and Clayton Eto of Safeway are teaming up for Kraft’s Check-Out Hunger campaign to make sure that no one in Hawaii is…Hungry For The Holidays
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where its customers and employees live and work. And what better way to do so than by doing what it does best - provide food to hungry families?
“The Hawaii Foodbank does an incredible job of distributing food to people in need throughout the state of Hawaii. As a food retailer, it is a great, natural fit and partnership for Safeway to help feed people in the communities we serve,” Noe says. “We were so thankful to our customers and employees who donated more than $100,000 (in 2008).”
A more-recent addition to the Check-Out Hunger crew is Don Quijote, which first got involved last year.
After bringing in $8,900, Don Quijote senior vice president Herbert Gushikuma and the rest decided to re-enlist for 2009.
“During the holiday season, it’s the toughest time and money is tighter, and we just want to be there for the community, help out any way we can,” said Liza Garcia, advertising manager. “You can make a donation right at the checkout, it’s so convenient. That’s the best part of it. I have to make a donation every time I shop; it’s hard not to.”
In total, $182,290 was raised during last year’s Check-Out Hunger campaign, an increase of nearly $40,000 from 2007 and more than $100,000 from just five years ago.
While these numbers may be a positive sign to some, Grimm says there is still a way to go before we can start celebrating.
“The first year the Foodbank was in existence we distributed 350,000 pounds of food; this past year we distributed 10.1 million pounds,” Grimm reports. “We have to take it day by day, week by week, month by month and see where we stand. We have to make sure we are in a good position to serve the needy.”
It may sound redundant or even a little corny, but ‘tis the season to give - whether it be thanks for all that we have or a little something extra for those who have not, just give.
“While you’re shopping for yourself, you have to always think that there are people who are less fortunate or who are not able to do it this time,” Pacarro adds. “For $17, you’re going to feed a family or a child or a senior. Whatever you can contribute, however big or small, that’s the important part.”
Check out www.hawaiifoodbank.org for more on this and other Foodbank events.
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