People who don't want to see 233 low-income senior citizens lose their O'ahu home food deliveries next month offered help and money yesterday to the nonprofit Lanakila Meals on Wheels.

"We have gotten a lot of calls," said Remy Rueda, Lanakila's director. "It's so overwhelming it makes me cry."

Lanakila officials estimated they received 50 phone calls and 20 voice mails yesterday from people inquiring about the proposed cuts.

The callers included Traci Toguchi, Miss Hawai'i 1995, who made elderly issues the centerpiece of her 1996 reign. Toguchi yesterday agreed to "adopt" a senior citizen through Lanakila Meals on Wheels and pay his or her food costs, $1,677 for a year.

Toguchi, a singer and entertainer, also offered to organize a fundraiser for Lanakila. She's publishing the second edition of the handbook she launched during her year as Miss Hawai'i titled "Feel the Breeze: Wellness Options for Seniors" and plans to include a donation coupon to Lanakila in the book when it is reissued in September.

Toguchi grew up visiting senior citizen facilities, often singing to the clients. As Miss Hawai'i, she delivered food through Lanakila Meals on Wheels wearing her crown.

"It's really humbling when you see how appreciative the seniors are," Toguchi said. "It really gives you a warm feeling."

Lanakila already has 269 low-income senior citizens on its waiting list but plans to cut 233 seniors from its program in three weeks because it will no longer receive extra state money that has helped the group.

Starting July 1, Lanakila plans to reduce the number of people it serves with home meals from 727 to 494.

Other pledges yesterday came from senior citizens who are not on the program but want to help those whose only meal each day comes from Lanakila, said Marlena Willette, Lanakila's marketing director.

"People were shocked to learn of the cuts and want to contribute or adopt a senior or just register their distress," Willette said. "We're just so encouraged by all of the community support. We hope to not to have to cut anyone from the program, but it all depends on the funding."

Sandy Ballard, executive director of the O'ahu Veterans Center, also called Lanakila yesterday and pledged to share a portion of the proceeds from the center's upcoming fundraiser on Nov. 17 in Foster Village.

Ballard still needs to get formal approval from the center's board and from the umbrella veterans council that oversees the center, she said.

But Ballard is certain everyone will agree that the O'ahu Veterans Center needs to help Lanakila, she said.

"I'm positive of it," Ballard said. "It would be a perfect fit for us because I know that some of the people they are serving are our veterans."

As she read about Lanakila's budget problems in yesterday's Advertiser, Toguchi thought back to the meals she delivered through Lanakila a decade ago and to the problems confronting many senior citizens in Hawai'i.

Her grandfather, Joseph Uchima, died at the age of 79 just 26 days after Toguchi was crowned Miss Hawai'i.

"He didn't want to live past the age of 80," Toguchi said. "He said he didn't want to be a burden to the family."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.