HC&S Helps Hungry With Hefty Donation Ahead of Holidays

HC&S, a subsidiary of A&B, makes a $15,000 donation to the Maui Food Bank. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company on Maui made a $15,000 donation to the Maui Food Bank, just ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The company says the donation is for “Phase 4” of the Maui Food Bank’s capital campaign to ensure efficient operation and long-term stability of the organization.

“This money will be used to buy new, energy-efficient refrigeration and freezer units to increase the amount of fresh produce, dairy and other refrigerated foods that can be collected, stored and distributed to the Maui community,” said Rick Volner, general manager at HC&S, a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin.

HC&S, a subsidiary of A&B, makes a $15,000 donation to the Maui Food Bank. Courtesy photo.

In addition to the $15,000 donation, the company says employees collected 7,500-pounds of food, and raised an additional $3,000 for the Maui Food Bank drive this year.

HC&S and A&B have been supporters of Maui Food Bank since 1988, claiming to donate a total of over $150,000 including $75,000 for this capital campaign.

Other companies have also been collecting food ahead of the holiday season to help the Maui Food Bank in its ongoing mission to help the hungry in Maui County by collecting and distributing food through community partnerships.

The Hawai‘i Medical Service Association announced that its employees collected a total of $110 and 115-pounds of canned goods and non-perishable items for the Maui Food Bank during its annual holiday food drive.

The drive was part of a statewide effort by teams of HMSA employees on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, in which teams collected money and food donations over a four-week period. Company-wide, HMSA employees collected a total of $36,000 and 5,400 pounds of food across the state.

“Not everyone is as fortunate as we are and the food drive helps us realize that it doesn’t take much to help someone else out,” said Alana Pico, a customer service representative in HMSA’s Maui office.