MAUI, HAWAI‘I – Maui conservation non profit organizations and businesses joined forces with several large volunteer organizing groups last week in order to help feed the community in this time of COVID-19 crisis. Volunteer groups Kanu Hawai’i, Hands On Maui, and the County of Maui Volunteer Center helped channel efforts to get food, donations and medical equipment to Mauiʻs human services organizations: Feed My Sheep, Maui Rapid Response and Maui Food Bank.
Love the Sea organized the event to support Volunteer Week led by Kanu Hawaii. Kanu Hawaii Executive Director Keone Kealoha said " What can each of us do to make a difference during this time? Volunteer Week Hawai'i is a proud partner on this pono effort. Mahalo!"
We love working with our partners Love The Sea during Kanu Hawaiʻiʻs Volunteer Week. "Last year, we were able to clean the marine debris at Kahului Harbor, but we are so happy to be able to help our own species during this challenging time,” said Hawaii Wildlife Fund Executive Director Hannah Bernard.
Joining Love the Sea were several other environmental organizations whose volunteer base usually helps out cleaning up beaches and recovering wildlife habitat: Surfrider, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and Pacific Whale Foundation. Prevented for the last month from working outside, these groups united their mighty volunteer base to help their community in need.
“Kudos to organizer Matt Lane and so many from the community including Members of Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise for helping replenish supplies at Feed My Sheep. Now more than ever families in our community are relying on nonprofits like Feed My Sheep to help put food on the table. Mahalo nui loa to all who took time to donate canned goods and cash last week to the food drive in Lahaina.” said Senator Roz Baker
The overall donations from all 4 food drives collected over 1350 lbs of food and $1,318 in donations including building over 32 medical kits for Maui Rapid Response and a large donation of Sanitizer from Pau Vodka Distillery.
"I’m so grateful for the work of all the volunteers and helping to feed our community and this unprecedented catastrophe that has rocked us to the very core it truly shows that by working together and supporting each other we can make it through the most difficult of times." said State Representative Angus Mckelvey.
