Categorized | Volunteering

Zucker ups food drive goal to 100,000 pounds

Special to Hawaii 24/7

Thursday was the fourth day of food collection in Will Zucker’s third annual Hike for Hunger. Zucker has now walked 70 miles out of 127 total for his awareness-raising walk.

Zucker wants to draw attention to the plight of one out of five Hawaii Island residents, who use the services of The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s Food Bank.

Zucker’s stated goal at the start of his walk from Hilo to Keauhou via Waimea and Waikoloa was to raise 75,000 pounds of food, or the cash equivalent.

He now says the goal is 100,000 pounds of food.

Both cash and food donations are critical. The Food Basket’s purchasing power means that for every dollar donated, 10 pounds of food can be purchased, executive director Nani Lee said.

On the Big Island, 26 percent of children are “food insecure,” meaning they and their families are not certain from where their next meal will come.

Zucker, in sales for Mahalo Broadcasting (parent company of LAVA 105.3 fm and KKOA 107.7 fm), collected food and the Downtown Hilo KTA and at the Puainako KTA last Saturday and Sunday.

He and Israel Gonzales of the LAVA 105.3 fm morning show walked from Hilo to Waimea starting Sunday, arriving Wednesday afternoon. Zucker collected food at KTA Waimea, and Thursday at Waikoloa Village Market, along with Noa Lincoln, host of the Blues Power show on LAVA 105.3 fm.

On Friday, Zucker plans to walk from Waikoloa to KTA in downtown Kailua on Palani Road. He will collect food and cash donations Friday afternoon from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Saturday morning, Zucker will walk to KTA at Keauhou and collect food and cash from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Food Basket welcomes cash or checks. Zucker says so far, the drive has raised 62,000 pounds or the equivalent, a combination of donations of nonperishable food and cash.

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