Foodland and Sack N Save stores statewide are accepting donations to the "2008 Hurricane Relief Fund" to help victims of Gulf Coast hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

The fundraising campaign is part of "Give Aloha," Foodland's annual community matching gifts program. Donations will be accepted beginning now through Sept. 30 at Foodland and Sack N Save checkout counters. Foodland Super Market Ltd. and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation, and give the funds to the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross.

So far, 14,000 Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the Gulf Coast, including 30 Hawaii Red Cross volunteers, to run shelters, feed people, distribute cleanup kits and toiletries, perform damage assessment, conduct client casework, offer mental health counseling, and reunite families.

"This is the largest Red Cross response since Hurricane Katrina," said Coralie Matayoshi, CEO, American Red Cross Hawaii State Chapter. "With 3.8 million people still without electricity, we have opened over 800 shelters, served over 3 million meals, and distributed 80,000 clean up kits."

"We are deeply saddened by our country's recent tragedies," said Jenai S. Wall, Foodland chairman and CEO. "Like many of our customers, we want to do what we can for the victims and their families. Through Give Aloha, we hope to provide an easy way for the community to show their concern for all those affected by the hurricanes through their support of the '2008 Hurricane Relief Fund.'"

Customers are invited to make a donation of up to $249 to the "2008 Hurricane Relief Fund" (code# 78468) at any Foodland or Sack N Save checkout counter using their Maika`i Card. The donation amount will be added to the customer's grocery purchase total. The amount donated and "Hurricane Relief" will appear on the customer's receipt.

One-hundred percent of customers' donations to the "2008 Hurricane Relief Fund" plus Foodland and the Western Union Foundation's matching gift will be given to the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross

Give Aloha was created in 1999 to honor Foodland founder, Maurice J. "Sully" Sullivan, who believed deeply in the joy of giving, and who encouraged the spirit of giving in others. All Hawai'i nonprofit organizations are encouraged to participate each year, and customers are invited to make donations to their favorite organizations at checkout counters this month.

Through Give Aloha, Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will contribute up to a total of $300,000 this year for all participating organizations combined. Since Give Aloha began, a total of $10.8 million has been given to Hawai'i's nonprofit organizations.