Posted on: Thursday, April 17, 2003

EDITORIAL
Foodbank requires help from us all

Small gestures can have big results.

One place where this is particularly clear is in the way Islanders help the Hawai'i Foodbank.

A can or two of tuna, a couple of cans of Spam or a bag of soup can mean a lot to families who are unable to adequately feed themselves.

The Foodbank will hold its annual food drive this Saturday in the face of a rising demand for help, not only from the poor and homeless, but from working families who count on the Foodbank to supplement what they can get for themselves.

Demand for help from the Foodbank went up a dramatic 13 percent between 2001 and 2002 and is expected to jump another 6 percent this year.

While the organization receives large quantities of carbohydrates and other basics from the federal government and from food suppliers, it relies on individuals to supplement where the need is greatest: high-protein foods.

Canned meat and fish, such as tuna, is in particularly high demand.

So, if you see someone soliciting for the Foodbank this weekend, help out. Look through your cupboards for extra supplies or pick up a spare can or two when you are out shopping.

Your help may seem like a small thing, but it will loom large in the eyes of the hungry person who receives it.

For details of where you can drop off donations, call 836-3600.