UH to Participate in Annual Hawaii Foodbank Drive

System-wide activities to include t-shirt sales and canned goods collection

The University of Hawaiʻi will participate in the 15th Annual Hawaiʻi Foodbank Drive kicking off on Tuesday, February 17, and running through Friday, February 27 for all UH campuses on the island of Oʻahu. The annual Foodbank Drive culminates with a statewide collection event scheduled for Saturday, April 24, with collection sites open at various locations across the state.

UH has been a proud participant in the Hawaiʻi Foodbank Drive for many years, with faculty, staff and students on all 10 campuses contributing to the university‘s successful efforts each year. Last year, the UH community collected an estimated $30,000 and 5 tons of food within a two-week period. This year, the university hopes for the same participation from the UH community and hopes collection efforts surpass last year‘s numbers. The university‘s goal this year is to collect 11,500 lbs. of food and $33,000 in contributions.

Several activities are scheduled to help ensure another successful UH Foodbank Drive. T-shirts promoting the Hawaiʻi Foodbank and the fight against hunger and Aloha Diners Club Coupon books will be sold on campuses and half of the proceeds of the sales will be donated to the Foodbank fund. Staff, faculty and students are encouraged to donate money or canned goods to the statewide effort. The university and Sodexho, UH‘s on-campus catering service, will partner again this year to promote the Hawaiʻi Foodbank Drive and will set up canisters at all their campus locations for donations.

The Hawaiʻi Foodbank provides food through various agencies to 118,000 different individuals each week, of which 43,000 are children and 17,000 are over the age of 65. This year, the organization lists its five most-wanted food items as canned meats or tuna, meals, soups, vegetables and fruits, and beans. Monetary donations are also welcome. For every $10 donated, the Hawaiʻi Foodbank is able to distribute enough food to provide 100 meals to those who need it most.

On April 24, designated collection sites throughout the state will accept valuable canned goods and funds from the public to not only support the Hawaiʻi Foodbank mission of "Helping to Feed Hawaiʻi‘s Hungry," but also to raise awareness of hunger in Hawaiʻi. The collection sites open on Oʻahu on April 24 will include Restaurant Row, Koko Marina Center, Town Center of Mililani, McCully Shopping Center, Pearl City Shopping Center, Waianae Mall Shopping Center, Windward City Shopping Center, and Waiokeola Congregational Church in Kāhala. There will also be collection sites at various military and neighbor island locations.

For more information about the 2004 Hawaiʻi Foodbank Drive, call (808) 836-3600.

UH Drop-off Sites:

UH Manoa - Bachman Hall lobby

UH West Oahu - Chancellor's Office, B-105

Leeward CC - Library & Child Care Center

Honolulu CC - Student Life and Development Office, Bldg. 2, Rm. 112

Kapiolani CC - Office of Student Affairs, Ohia 101

Windward CC - Cafeteria