Updated at 5:10 p.m., Monday, July 2, 2007
Lanakila Meals on Wheels gets $25,000 donation
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i's largest Meals on Wheels program, which faced having to cut seniors from its home food delivery service due to budget cuts, received a $25,000 donation from Central Pacific Bank this morning.Starting today, Central Pacific Bank also will open its 38 branches to donations from the public.
"Lanakila Meals on Wheels provides meals daily to seniors, which is critical for them," said bank President and CEO Clint Arnoldus. "They're a wonderful nonprofit, and their service is priceless for seniors."
Lanakila Meals on Wheels announced last month that it would have to cut its delivery service by 233 seniors because it will no longer receive extra state money it has relied on for years.
Since then, 27 homebound seniors have been "adopted" by people offering to pay the cost of their meals for a year and the organization has received enough donations to continue its current service for another month, said Marian Tsuji, president and CEO of Lanakila Rehabilitation Center.
Last week, Lanakila Meals on Wheels also received a $25,000 matching grant from Island Insurance Foundation. Tsuji said Lanakila is close to raising that amount.
