2009 Hawaii Foodbank Hunger Walk September 9, 2009

On Saturday, August 29th, 2009, the Hawai‘i Foodbank (HFB) celebrated its 5th Annual Hunger Walk sponsored by Harry C. and Nee Chang C. Wong Foundation. The annual walk is a fundraiser for Hawai‘i Foodbank member agencies that feed the hungry through food pantries, feeding programs, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers and soup kitchens. The walk also serves to raise awareness of hunger in Hawai‘i. HFB partners with over 250 agencies (including the Partners in Development Foundation) to feed 131,862 people statewide, including 32,965 children and 14, 504 elderly.

Last year, 58 participating agencies raised a total of $108,665.31 to feed the hungry in their communities. This year, HFB is hoping to once again meet and exceed the event’s $100,000 goal.

Congratulations and mahalo to all of you for your generosity and hard work with soliciting donations and pledges. Last year the Partners in Development Foundation raised $1,989.00 and received an additional $919.15 in matching funds from the Hawai‘i Foodbank and $460.00 from the Harry C. & Nee C. Wong Foundation for a total of $3,368.15 that was directly credited to PIDF’s HFB account to help feed the hungry and homeless encountered in the Ka Pa‘alana Mobile Preschool & Homeless Outreach Services program. So far, $1,536 was collected and submitted to credit PIDF’s account on the day of this year’s Hunger Walk. This total does not include money individually submitted and previously mailed in. Therefore, it’s highly possible last year’s total credit will be surpassed. HFB is hoping to have notices sent out including the total amount of money raised and credited to agencies within the next two weeks. More details to follow.

Once again, mahalo nui loa for your continued support. A special thank you goes out to PIDF’s administration and staff from Tutu & Me and Tech Together who joined Ka Pa‘alana staff and program participants in this year’s walk.

Attached is a group picture of Ka Pa‘alana staff, preschool participants from Hope For A New Beginning Shelter and Pai‘olu Kaiaulu Shelter, Kama‘ehu Youth Program participants, and Ke Kama Pono Safehouse Program participants posing with HFB President Dick Grimm and Director of Agency Affiliations and HFB Hunger Walk Organizer Roxanne Stark.