From left, Marti Wukelic, Leah Lambros and Sen. Roz Baker from the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise collected food and cash for the Rotary Gives Thanks Food Drive at Times Honokowai.

LAHAINA – For the 15th consecutive year, six Rotary Clubs on Maui collected a much-needed amount of food for the Maui Food Bank at their recent Rotary Gives Thanks Food Drive.

Rotarians manned collection tables at six Maui food stores. Over 3,100 pounds of food was collected, and over $5,000 in funds was generated, from generous Maui community members.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, members and friends of the following Rotary Clubs of Maui worked doors at Maui grocery stores to participate in Rotary Gives Thanks: Rotary Clubs of Kahului, Kihei Wailea, Lahaina, Lahaina Sunrise, Lahaina Sunset, and Upcountry Maui.

The goal of the Maui Food Bank is to provide hunger relief for anyone who might be in need.

Marlene Rice, director of development for the Maui Food Bank, said, “For all the Rotary Club members, I want to thank you for your commitment over the weekend to support the needs of the Maui Food Bank and, more importantly, the community on Maui. More than ever before, working poor families, seniors on fixed incomes and single parents are relying on the Maui Food Bank just to make it month to month.

“Because of folks like the Rotary Clubs who share our vision, we are able to make sure that no one in our island ‘ohana goes to bed hungry.”

This Rotary Gives Thanks Food Drive is one of the many community service projects sponsored by nine Rotary Clubs on Maui.

Nine of the 52 clubs that make up Rotary District 5,000 are located on Maui.

Rotary is a leadership organization made up of local business, professional and civic leaders.

The club members meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships and get things done in the community.

For more information, contact Rotary Maui Public Relations Chair Joanne Laird at 757-0981 or via e-mail at mamalrd01@gmail.com.