Dozens of students, faculty and staff at Leeward Community College volunteered to help the Hawaii Foodbank with a large-scale food distribution event on May 8, to help hundreds of families in need.
The “Food for Hawaiʻi’s ʻOhana” distribution was for those suffering from economic hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials chose Leeward CC as a new distribution location after a similar event hosted at the city park at the Waipiʻo Peninsula Soccer Complex created a massive traffic jam through Waipahu a week earlier. The large parking lot at the campus was mostly vacant as classes were moved online.
Two days after notifying the community, 75 of Leeward CC’s own turned out from 5 a.m. to help unload large amounts of food.
“We had a short window of opportunity to demonstrate our support, and had a great turnout,” Leeward CC Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza said. “Their enthusiasm truly energizes me. I feel lucky to be working with such a great bunch of people. It is incredibly humbling to see such compassion for our community.”
About 60 Honolulu Police Department officers helped direct traffic and keep hundreds of families flowing through the lines. Because the event was hosted at the campus, families were able to park, and avoid lines of traffic while also leaving their vehicles to get some fresh air.
The food distribution events are part of a public-private partnership between the City and County of Honolulu, Bank of Hawaii and Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Hawaii Foodbank.
