Throughout November, a food drive is being held at eight local restaurants that will collect donations for Hawaii Foodbank.
All the participating restaurants — Kimo’s Maui, Leilani’s on the Beach on Maui, Hula Grill Kaanapali, Duke’s Maui, Hula Grill Waikiki, Duke’s Waikiki on Oahu, Duke’s Kauai and Keoki’s Paradise on Kauai — are owned by T S Restaurants.
Anyone who donates to the food drive will receive a food and beverage certificate. If participants donate money, they will receive a certificate to eat at the restaurant in the same dollar amount. Or for every five food items donated, they will receive a $10 certificate. Both perks max out at $50.
Donations must be made in person with a restaurant-provided QR code in order to receive the food certificates.
“With food prices rising and one in six Hawaii residents struggling with hunger, it’s important we contribute in any way we can,” Dylan Ching, T S Restaurants’ vice president of operations for Hawaii, said in the news release. “As a community-focused company, we want to make sure everyone in our ohana gets the nutrition they need and deserve.”
Each restaurant aims to raise $10,000 for a total of $80,000, which would provide 168,000 meals.
“We are in a very challenging time right now because inflation is hitting everyone hard. Not only is it making our own operating costs more challenging, but it is also contributing to a persistently high demand for food assistance. This help comes at a very important time,” said Amy Miller Marvin, president and CEO of Hawaii Foodbank.
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii.