Community volunteers from the Pearl City Community Association (PCCA) and Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club joined Kahala Associates realtors Yumi Laney and Christina Laney-Wycheck and their ohana of dedicated volunteers during last Saturday's Annual Pearl City Food Drive that benefited the Hawaii Food Bank.
Volunteers started the day at 8:00am at the Momilani Community Center (MCC) where they conducted a food drive drop-off zone for Pearl City residents to donate their canned goods and bags of rice. At 10:00am the group headed out into the Pearl City community collecting food donation bags that they had distributed to households the week before.
The group collected a record 2,333 lbs. It was an increase of 600lbs of food collected from last year's food drive where they hauled in over 1600 lbs. of donations. 27% of Pearl City neighbors that received donation bags actually donated to the food drive.
"There are approximately 700 bags that were delivered to Pearl City homes which are about almost double the amount that we usually do, " said Pearl City Food Drive co-organizer Yumi Laney. "This is the fun week being able to pick up all the bags. We have a lot of volunteers helping out from the Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club and the Key Club from Pearl City High School who helped out last week. Also, we have help from the Pearl City Community Association. We really enjoy doing this. It's a group effort, and we can't do this by ourselves."
It was the first year that the food drive organizers were able to call the Momilani Community Center home base. With the addition of the donation drop-off zone and staging area for the neighborhood collection drive, the generosity of the MCC truly made a difference this year.
"The Momilani Community Center was so supportive," said co-organizer Christina Laney-Wycheck. "They opened up everything and got us tables, and brought us some extra pastries for the volunteers. It was really nice. They definitely supported our event this year."
Volunteers from the PCCA and Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club once again came to the aid of the community with their participation and manpower support for the food drive.
"The Pearl City Community Association and Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club like to help, especially with the holidays coming up," said PCCA President and Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club Board Member Warren Hiromoto. "A lot of people are hungry and need the support from the Hawaii Food Bank. We are very happy to be a part of the Pearl City Food Drive."
Mahalo to Yumi and Christina, and all the community volunteers for being there in support of the Hawaii Food Bank and Hawaii's families in need!
MyPearlCity.com will post more coverage and photos from the food drive soon!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Volunteers pictured at the Momilani Community Center in Pearl City on Saturday, November 16, 2013.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
(L-R) Yumi, Christina and Charlie pictured at the Momilani Community Center food drive drop-off zone
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
(L-R) Incoming Pearl City Community Association President Jits Fujimura, Mana Loa-Nimitz Lions Club
Board Member Brian Nitta, Yumi Laney from Kahala Associates and PCCA President Warren Hiromoto
are pictured at the Momilani Community Center on Saturday during the annual Pearl City Food Drive.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
PCCA President Warren Hiromoto pictured holding a Pearl City Food Drive collection bag.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Christina Laney-Wycheck goes over the food drive collection route with volunteers.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Even "Chili" dog was ready to hit the Pearl City neighborhoods on Saturday!