A team effort Feb. 14 at the Kapahulu Safeway store helped the small Aloha Harvest staff to a successful third annual Fill the Truck collection drive.<\/p>\n
Partnering with volunteers from Kaiser High’s Interact Club, Hands Helping Out, Air Force squadrons and individual donors, the nonprofit was able to literally fill its truck with 1,435 pounds of dry goods and raise more than $2,000 from Safeway shoppers to feed the hungry.<\/p>\n
“Volunteering for Aloha Harvest is so satisfying and rewarding,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Dameon Launert, “because of the opportunity to give back to our community in a way that so many take for granted. Far too many of our ohana go hungry, but Aloha Harvest rescues food that would otherwise go to waste, to feed those in need.<\/p>\n
“It’s a win-win.”<\/p>\n
The organization has been working since 1999 to cultivate its 280 sources of perishable and non-perishable food — local hotels, restaurants and distributors — and now has 175 social service agencies depending on the food it collects. A new partner this year is Papa John’s Hawaii, which designated the Kaimuki-based group as its first Charity of the Month. A combination of promotions and benefit pizza nights helped the company raise more than $700. Leftover pizza from a Papa John’s employee party also was collected and shared with a few shelters.<\/p>\n